Impact of periodontal disease on quality of life for dentate diabetics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of periodontal disease on quality of life in diabetics. A total of 159 dentate diabetic individuals registered at the Municipal Hospital in Itaúna, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were examined and interviewed. The clinical periodontal parameters recorded were: gingival bleeding, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. The OHIP-14 form was used to evaluate the impact of periodontal disease on quality of life. In relation to periodontal status, 15.7% of individuals were healthy, 35.2% presented gingivitis, and 49.1% periodontitis (27.7% in the mild-to-moderate and 21.4% in the advanced stages). Association between diagnosis of periodontal disease and impact on quality of life was significant in individuals with periodontitis (p < 0.001). Gingival bleeding, probing depth, and clinical attachment level > 4mm were associated with intensely negative impact on quality of life (p = 0.013, p < 0.001, and p = 0.012 respectively). Diabetics with mild-to-moderate and advanced periodontitis had more negative impact on quality of life than those who were periodontally healthy or with gingivitis.