[Oral health-related quality of life in cancer patients]

To date, only a few studies have investigated oral health-related quality of life (OH-QoL) in cancer patients. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has therefore developed a questionnaire, the Quality of Life Questionnaire - Oral Health Module 15 (EORTC QLQ-OH15), to enable investigation of OH-QoL. The aim of this study was to examine OH-QoL in a real-world setting.

OH-QoL was measured using the EORTC QLQ-OH15 in cancer patients at a non-specified time during treatment (t₁) as well as two weeks (t₂) and three months (t₃) after baseline. Potential predictors of OH-QoL such as age, sex, education, cancer entity and therapy were explored.

At baseline 40 patients participated in the study. At t₂, patients suffered more often from sticky saliva and experienced a higher sensitivity during eating or drinking compared to t₁. Additionally, dentures were worn less often. At t₃, patients were less often satisfied with information concerning oral side effects. Furthermore, patients older than 50 years, women, patients with poorer education, patients with head and neck cancer, and patients undergoing palliative therapy, surgery or targeted therapy indicated worse OH-QoL at t₂ than other patients.

OH-QoL is of clinical importance in cancer patients. It seems to be decreased after the end of treatment, and not only in patients with head and neck cancer. Despite its brevity, the EORTC QLQ-OH15 is able to capture these differences, and is well accepted by patients. It can be recommended for future studies in this area.