Quality of Life in Korean Patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the individually perceived quality of life in Korean patients with BMS using two questionnaires : the Medical Outcome Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49). This cross-sectional study included sixty subjects diagnosed with BMS and sixty healthy subjects as controls. All subjects in this study completed two questionnaires: the Medical Outcome Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49), which had been translated into Korean and subsequently validated for use in Korea. All of the subscales in the SF-36 exhibited significantly lower scores in BMS patients than control groups. Comparison of the mean SF-36 scores between the two groups revealed the greatest differences to be for the subscales of physical pain and role emotional (role limitations due to emotional problems). The mean score on each subscale of the OHIP-49 was significantly higher in BMS patients than control groups. Comparison of the mean OHIP-49 scores between the two groups revealed the greatest difference to be for the subscale of physical pain. These findings demonstrated that BMS had an impact on various components of a patient’s quality of life. BMS patients exhibited more impaired results and a poorer quality of life than control groups.