Oral health-related quality of life of patients after solid organ transplantation is not affected by oral conditions: results of a multicentre cross-sectional study

Background: This multicentre cross-sectional study aimed in examination of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients after solid organ transplantation (SOT). Material and Methods: Patients after SOT (liver, lung and heart) at one out of three German centers (Goettingen, Essen, Leipzig) were included. For comparison, a healthy control (HC) was recruited. OHRQoL was assessed by German short form of oral health impact profile (OHIP G14). Oral examination comprised: decayed-, missing- and filled-teeth index (DMF-T), remaining teeth and periodontitis severity. Results: In total, 196 patients after SOT and 130 HC with comparable age, gender and smoking habits were included (p>0.05). DMF-T and number of remaining teeth was worse in SOT group (p<0.01). OHIP G14 sum score was significantly higher in SOT (3.49 +/- 5.73 vs. 1.33 +/- 2.63, p<0.01). In contrast to HC, in SOT no associations between OHIP G14 and oral health parameters were found (pi>0.05). Number of remaining teeth was not an independent predictor of OHIP G14 sum score in SOT (beta -0.082, CI95 -0.156 - 0.045, p=0.28). Conclusions: OHRQoL of SOT recipients is not affected by their oral condition, leading to the assumption that the individual perception of patients physical oral health is not in line with the clinical situation.