Oral Health Related Quality of Life of Heart Transplantation Recipients

Objectives: Aim of this current cross-sectional study was the examination of health related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients after heart transplantation (HTx) in comparison to patients with heart insufficiency (HI).
Methods: Patients with HI and HTx were recruited from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leipzig Heart Centre, Germany. OHRQoL was assessed with the German short form of oral health impact profile (OHIP G14). Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated using the short form 36 survey (SF-36). Furthermore, the decayed-, missing- and filled-teeth index (DMF-T) as well as dental and periodontal treatment need was recorded. Statistics: t-test, Kruskal-Wallis-test, chi-square and fisher test (p<0.05).
Results: In total, 186 participants (HTx: 104, HI: 82) were included. Only periodontal treatment need was slightly higher in HI compared to HTx participants (95% vs. 86%, p=0.05). With a OHIP sum score of 6.58 ± 6.40 [5; 2.5-8] in HTx and 5.54 ± 5.47 [5; 2-7] in HI group, no clinically relevant or statistical significant difference was apparent between groups (p=0.39). While the OHIP G14 pattern “psychosocial impact” (p=0.24) was comparable between the groups, a statistical significant difference was found for the pattern “oral function” (HTx: 1.30 ± 2.40 [0; 0-2], HI: 0.78 ± 1.68 [0; 0-0], p=0.04). The SF-36 scales physical functioning, role functioning/physical, general health and energy/fatigue were significantly worse in HI compared to HTx group (p_i<0.01). Worse SF-36 physical sum scale was significantly associated to higher OHIP-G14 sum score in both groups (HTx: p<0.01, HI: p=0.04). For HTx group, a significant association was also found for mental sum scale (p<0.01).
Conclusions: OHRQoL is just slightly reduced in HI and HTx patients, and mainly associated to general HRQoL. Multidisciplinary dental care concepts might be recommendable to improve oral health conditions in HI and HTx patients.