Temporomandibular disorders in patients with HIV: a cross-sectional study

Untreated HIV infection leads to severe immunodeficiency and can be associated with an accelerated aging process and a higher prevalence of frailty. Systemic changes are known to cause greater oral manifestations and decreased orofacial function. However, there is no investigation on Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) in this population. This study aims to assess the prevalence of TMD in individuals living with HIV/AIDS. This cross-sectional study included HIV patients, with undetectable plasma viral load, under follow-up in the infectious disease's outpatient clinic at the Federal University of Bahia hospital. We recorded socio-demographic data, Fried's frailty criteria, Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder, and Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) through the application of structured questionnaires and extra-oral examination findings. Data analysis was conducted on SPSS-v18. The sample consisted of 198 patients. The prevalence of TMD was (33.8 %), most affecting females (46.6 %). Difficulty in opening the mouth and parafunctional habits were the main symptoms of the disease, as well as functional limitations. The mean of the BDI score was higher in TMD group than in those without TMD (11.01 ± 8.61 vs. 7.60 ± 7.52 valor de p = 0.004). Logistic regression showed an association between sex (OR=2.305, 95 % CI 1.243‒4.275) and depression (OR = 1.045, 95 % CI 1.005‒1.087) and TMD in HIV patients. The present study observed the prevalence of symptoms associated with TMD as difficulty opening the mouth, muscle fatigue, and joint noises in patients with chronic HIV and associated with depression. Highlights the importance of a broader view of the health of individuals living with HIV.