Oral Manifestations in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Oral manifestations are recognized extra-intestinal features of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, their prevalence and clinical relevance remain controversial. This study aims to quantify the prevalence of individual oral outcomes in IBD patients and to evaluate their association with the disease compared with healthy controls. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies were identified through searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Studies reporting oral signs and symptoms in IBD patients were included. A single-arm meta-analysis was performed for oral ulcerations, dry mouth, halitosis, tongue alterations, oral aphthae, stomatitis, and taste changes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Twenty-one studies including 7791 participants (5914 IBD patients and 1877 controls) were analyzed. The pooled prevalence of oral ulcerations was 20% (95%CI11-33), dry mouth 32% (95%CI14-59), halitosis 22% (95%CI7-51), and tongue alterations 11% (95%CI4-24). Comparative analyses showed no statistically significant differences between IBD patients and controls for these outcomes. Conclusions: Although oral manifestations are frequently reported in IBD patients, their prevalence does not significantly differ from that of the general population. Standardized, multicenter studies are required to clarify disease-specific associations.