Page 49 - Petelin, Ana. 2024. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivnih in starejših odraslih | Health of the Working-Age and Older Adults. Zbornik prispevkov z recenzijo | Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press

https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-397-5.49-56

Oral Health-related Quality of Life

in the Adult Population of Slovenia in 2019

Anja Durjava, Martin Ranfl , Barbara Artnik 3
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1
1 National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
2 National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Murska Sobota, Murska Sobota, Slovenia
3 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Introduction: Problems with the oral cavity and/or teeth cause pain,
discomfort and functional limitations of the oral cavity and/or teeth
and affect quality of life. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL)
can assess the impact of oral health on a person’s life, self-image,
social interactions and work performance. Methods: As part of the
»National Oral Health Survey of Adults in Slovenia in 2019«, indicators
of OHRQoL were monitored using a questionnaire among 3,200 adults
in Slovenia aged 18 to 74 years. Participants received an invitation to
the online survey by post, and a written questionnaire was included
in the notification letter for people over 44 years of age. The OHRQoL
questions related to the frequency of eating difficulties, feelings of
tension due to oral and/or dental problems, problems performing daily
tasks, dental pain, painful gums/mouth sore and limitations in social
interactions due to the appearance of teeth. The results were analysed
using demographic data. The chi-square (χ ) test and the CCP test were
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used to statistically analyse the differences between the categories.
Results: 31.9% of adults occasionally or more often experienced a decrease
in OHRQoL due to one or more limitations caused by oral and/or dental
problems. Occasionally or more often, 27% of adults reported painful
gums/mouth sore, 20% had difficulty eating and 19% felt tense due to
oral and/or dental problems. 10% reported difficulties performing daily
tasks and 12% reported dental pain; no differences were found between
men and women. Adults over 54 years of age were more likely to have
difficulties eating than younger people (χ test=22.434, p<0.001). A
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higher proportion of adults with less education reported limitations
due to problems with the oral cavity and/or teeth. Difficulty eating was
reported by 27% of adults with primary, 20% with secondary and 13%
with at least tertiary education (χ test=11.388, p=0.003). 12% of adults
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with primary and secondary education and 6% with at least tertiary