ORAL HEALTH STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

The aim is to point to oral health status in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study included 106 patients diagnosed with COPD who were treated at the Special Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. The World Health Organization questionnaire for oral health in adults was used as a validated measure to assess oral health. Results were compared based on the severity of the disease according to the GOLD classification, long term oxygen therapy, and their smoking habits. Most patients (61.3%) had less than 10 teeth. Also, 82.2% of the patients had problems with their oral health in the previous year. More than half of the patients (55.7%) ranked the status of their oral cavity and teeth as average or worse, whereas 58.5% of the patients ranked their gingival status as good or better. Also, 55.7% of the patients brushed their teeth once a day or less, which was more pronounced in men. The same percentage of the patients did not know whether their toothpaste contained fluoride. Sixty-seven percent of the patients were former smokers, while the rest were active smokers. Smokers reported more frequent feeling of shame and tension because of the appearance of their teeth in relation to non-smokers. Patients with advanced stages of COPD are more likely to report problems with eating and chewing food compared to patients with less advanced stages of the disease. According to the results, further systematic education of COPD patients is crucial in promoting the importance of oral health.