Oral health and health-related quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients and non-diabetic controls.

The aim of the present study was to identify factors in oral health and also diabetes-related and socio-economic components that could be associated with the subject's health-related quality of life (HRQL). One-hundred-and-two randomly sampled type 2 diabetic and 102 age-matched and gender-matched non-diabetic subjects from the same residential area were studied cross-sectionally using the SF-36 questionnaire. Although the HRQL profiles were similar in nature, the control subjects indicated a more favorable health status in their HRQL scores than did type 2 diabetic subjects. Certain oral health factors contributed to deterioration of the patient's HRQL. Multiple regression analyses including both groups were used to determine variables explaining variance in the different HRQL domains. Dissatisfaction with teeth and mouth, feeling of dry mouth and poor financial status contributed to about one-fourth of the explanation of the variance in all health domains. Having diabetes played an important role in the domains Physical Functioning, Role functioning--Physical, General Health, and Social Functioning. Age was important for Physical Functioning and Role functioning--Physical. Our study indicates that different factors may be associated with impaired HRQL, especially among type 2 diabetic subjects, although only a partial understanding of its relation to oral health could be demonstrated.