Oral Health Related Quality Of Life In Head And Neck Cancer Patients Visiting A Tertiary Center In Central Nepal

Abstract

Abstract Background: Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) cases are rising every year. It is associated with various manifestations in oral cavity and leads to a compromise in Oral Health Related Quality of Life of the pateints. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in Head and Neck cancer patients and compare it with their apparently normal counterparts. Methods: A comparative cross–sectional study was conducted among 65 cases of HNC and their apparently normal counterparts visiting a tertiary cancer center in central Nepal. Diagnosed cases of HNC who were 18 years or more, providing consent and willing to participate in the study were taken as cases and 65 apparently healthy attendants after matching of age, sex and socio-economic status were taken as controls. Terminally ill, pregnant and those not providing consent were excluded from the study. Translated and validated OHIP-14 questionnaire was used to assess the Oral Health Related Quality of Life. Stage of cancer, site of cancer and time since diagnosed was assessed from the patient’s record file. Response to OHIP-14 items were recorded on a likert scale and the mean score was calculated. The results were statistically analysed using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: Majority of the participants belonged to upper lower socio-economic class. Mean OHIP -14 score in case group and control group were 23.91±9.71 and 6.54±4.86 respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The highest affected domain in case group was psychological discomfort (6.10±1.49) and that in control group was physical pain (2.50±1.70). In salivary gland tumor, the highest affected domain was handicap. In all other tumors, psychological discomfort was the highest affected domain and the values were not statistically significant. Conclusion: There is an impairment of the OHRQoL in HNC patients which is higher than their normal counterparts.