Association of oral health status and oral health-related quality of life among adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study

Background: The growing burden of noncommunicable diseases like type II diabetes mellitus is a challenge worldwide. Type II diabetes mellitus has a number complications which includes oral conditions like periodontitis, tooth loss, dry mouth, and taste alterations. However, it is unclear if these oral conditions affect the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in diabetic patients. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the association between oral health status and OHRQoL in adult type II diabetes patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in a teaching dental hospital setting on a convenient sample of 350 participants. The WHO Oral Health Survey Proforma 2013 was used to assess oral health status, and Oral Health Impact Profile-20 (OHIP-20) questionnaire was used to collect information on OHRQoL. The mean OHIP score of the participants was compared between the different categories of the oral health status variables using independent t-test and Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19 was used for analysis. Results: Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth score, bleeding on probing, loss of attachment, and presence of denture were significantly associated with high OHIP scores as compared to the absence of these conditions (P < 0.001). The presence of oral mucosal lesions was not associated with OHIP scores (P = 0.099). Conclusion: The present study found an association between oral health status and OHRQoL in type II diabetes mellitus patients.