Oral health–related quality of life of patients with oral chronic graft-versus-host disease

Purpose Symptoms of oral chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) may significantly affect the oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to assess the OHRQoL in patients with oral cGVHD and to examine whether oral cGVHD symptoms, mucosal cGVHD, and salivary gland function corre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Supportive care in cancer 2021-11, Vol.29 (11), p.6353-6360
Main Authors: Stolze, Juliette, Boor, Marlou, Hazenberg, Mette D., Brand, Henk S., Raber-Durlacher, Judith E., Laheij, Alexa M. G. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chronic Disease
Clinics
Exocrine glands
Graft versus host disease
Graft vs Host Disease
Health care reform
Humans
Medical research
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Medicine, Experimental
Mouth Mucosa
Nursing
Nursing Research
Oncology
Oral diseases
Oral Health
Oral hygiene
Original
Original Article
Pain Medicine
Quality of Life
Rehabilitation Medicine
Side effects
Xerostomia - etiology
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Summary:Purpose Symptoms of oral chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) may significantly affect the oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to assess the OHRQoL in patients with oral cGVHD and to examine whether oral cGVHD symptoms, mucosal cGVHD, and salivary gland function correlated with OHRQoL. Methods Patients referred to the oral cGVHD outpatient clinic were included. Severity of oral mucosal cGVHD, oral cGVHD symptoms, and OHRQoL was assessed by the NIH OMS, NIH OSS, and OHIP-14, respectively. Unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary flow rates were determined and categorized into “hyposalivation,” “normal salivary flow,” and “hypersalivation.” Results Of 56 included patients, 80% had mild, moderate, or severe oral mucosal cGVHD. Mean total score of OHRQoL was 16.5 (±11.7), negatively affected by functional problems. Patients reported highest scores regarding oral sensitivity and xerostomia. Significant correlations were found between severity of oral pain and OHRQoL and between oral sensitivity and OHRQoL. No correlation was found between oral mucosal cGVHD and OHRQoL. Patients with hyposalivation, normal salivary flow, and hypersalivation reported equal levels of OHRQoL. Conclusion Results demonstrate that the OHRQoL was mostly negatively affected by complaints of oral pain and oral sensitivity and less by the severity of oral mucosal cGVHD assessed by the NIH OMS score. Special attention of (oral) health care professionals for patients with oral cGVHD is mandatory to alleviate their symptoms and improve OHRQoL.
ISSN:0941-4355
1433-7339
DOI:10.1007/s00520-021-06197-7