Oral Health and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Control Study

Association between oral health and rheumatoid arthritis is well established. Oral health-related quality of life was determined in patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

This study was conducted among 45 patients (males 25 and female 20) (Group I) of RA and 45 healthy participants as control (Group II). Disease activity score 28 test, health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), and general oral health assessment index (GOHAI) questionnaire were applied.

The mean HAQ score in Group I was 1.14 and in Group II was 0.36. The mean GOHAI score in Group I was 36.4 and in Group II was 52.8. The mean HAQ in males was 0.94 and in females was 34.6. The mean GOHAI in males was 12.6 and in females was 38.2. In Group I, there were 15 patients with HAQ level 1 and 30 with HAQ level 2 and in Group II was 40 with HAQ levels 1 and 5 with HAQ level 2. In Group I, 42 had Dt GOHAI = 0 and 3 had Dt GOHAI = 1 and in Group II, 10 had Dt GOHAI = 0 and 35 had Dt GOHAI = 1. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the mean value of HAQ and GOHAI in degree of disease activity (P < 0.05). There was an increase in HAQ and decreases GOHAI scores with the deterioration of disease. There was a correlation between age and involved joints with HAQ and inverse relationship between age and involved joints with GOHAI.

Authors found that RA patients had poor oral health quality of life. It was found that aging and with the deterioration of disease, GOHAI, and the oral health quality of life of patients decreased.