A study on the quality of life related to oral health among patients with beta-thalassemia major in Ahvaz city during 2022

The present study aimed to determine the oral health status related to the quality of life among patients with beta-thalassemia major in Ahvaz city.

This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted on two groups: individuals with beta-thalassemia major and healthy individuals. The case group consisted of 120 patients with beta-thalassemia major who had referred to Shafa Hospital in Ahvaz in 2022, and the control group included 120 healthy individuals who accompanied the patients. Data collection tools included two standard questionnaires on dry mouth and oral health-related quality of life. All analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22, with a significance level of less than 0.05.

There was a significant difference in the mean score of overall oral health-related quality of life and its dimensions between patients with beta-thalassemia major and healthy individuals (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the mean score of functional limitation between patients with beta-thalassemia major and healthy individuals based on age (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the mean score of physical disability between patients with beta-thalassemia major and healthy individuals based on age and dry mouth (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the mean score of disability between patients with beta-thalassemia major and healthy individuals based on gender, education level, tobacco use, and dry mouth (P<0.05).

Appropriate psychological interventions and strategies should be implemented to improve the oral health-related quality of life among patients with beta-thalassemia major.