Assessment of oral health and quality of life in hemophilia and thalassemia major patients

The chronic blood disorders could have negative effects on various fields of patient’s quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the quality of life and oral health in major thalassemia and hemophilia patients.

This cross- sectional study was performed in 1398 on 56 hemophilia patients and 35 thalassemia major patients over 15 years of age. All the subjects were examined clinically to determine DMFT and CPITN, then the subjects completed OHIP-14, xerostomia, SF36 questionnaire. Data was analyzed with T-Test, ANOVA and Chi-square using Stata14.

The mean age of hemophilia and beta-thalassemia patients was 32.3 and 26.2, the mean DMFT index was 8.75 and 7.6, and CPITN index was 2.02 and 2.26, respectively. Analysis of the components of the DMFT index showed a predominance of number of decayed teeth over filled teeth in both groups. According to the CPITN index, 19.6% and 20% of hemophilia and thalassemia patients had gingival healthy, respectively. The mean quality of life total scores in patients with hemophilia and thalassemia was 62.11 and 58.07, respectively. The mean DMFT had a significant negative relationship with the quality of life total scores in both groups. There was a significant relationship between different domains of quality of life and CPITN and OHIP-14 in thalassemia patients. Also patients with dry mouth had lower quality of life.

Hemophilia and thalassemia patients indicated undesirable oral health. It is necessary to improve multidimensional strategies in various fields of health care in patients.