Impaired oral health-related quality of life in Hungary

To describe the prevalence of impaired oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in the adult Hungarian population and to determine population-based norms for three Hungarian versions of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-H).

In a survey of 1059 randomly selected subjects, OHIP responses, age, gender, and denture status [natural dentition or fixed partial dentures (FPDs), removable partial dentures (RPDs), or complete dentures (CDs)] were collected. Study outcomes were item prevalence and OHIP summary score frequency ('norms').

The prevalence of OHIP items ranged from 2% to 43%, with a mean item prevalence of 14%. The distribution of summary scores was characterized by decile norms. Median scores for OHIP-H49, the 49-item questionnaire, were 6 OHIP units for subjects with FPDs, 10 OHIP units for subjects with RPDs, and 6 OHIP units for subjects with CDs. The median scores were 0, 0, and 1 OHIP units for the 14-item OHIP-H, and 0, 0, and 0 OHIP units for the five-item OHIP-H.

Our sample demonstrates substantial OHRQoL impact in the Hungarian general population. The derived norms provide a framework for interpretation of data in future studies using the Hungarian OHIP versions, as well as data on how oral conditions and cultural factors affect perceived oral health when compared with international findings.