Oral health‑related quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma: A case–control study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has increased in recent
years. With the development of various treatments, the mortality rate has decreased and more
people are living with the consequences of the disease and its treatment, which can have a great
impact on the quality of life. Some questionnaires measure the impact of the disease on daily
activities and patient behavior. In this study, the oral health‑related quality of life (OHRQOL) was
assessed through the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)‑14 questionnaire between the OSCC
patient and control groups.
Materials and Methods: In this cross‑sectional study, the OHIP‑14 questionnaire was given to
51 OSCC patients who had completed the treatment at least 6 months before participating in this
study and 51 healthy individuals, and we used the Chi‑square test, independent sample t‑test, one‑way
ANOVA, and linear regression in three models. P = 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of patients was 55.86 ± 15.04 years and the control group was
54.96 ± 14.08 years. Women made up 51% of patients. The mean OHIP score was 22.84 ± 11.42 in
the patient group and 17.92 ± 9.23 in the control group, which indicates a significant (P = 0.005)
difference between the two groups according to the independent sample t‑test.
Conclusion: The OHRQOL of patients has significantly decreased compared to the control group.
Surgery had the lowest quality reduction, and combined surgical treatment with radiotherapy and
chemotherapy had the highest reduction in the OHRQOL. It is recommended to have regular
follow-up sessions and to have a proper diet during and after treatment.
Key Words: Health‑related quality of life, mouth neoplasms, oral squamous cell carcinoma