Effect of Behcet's disease-associated oral ulcers on oral health related quality of life.

AIM

The current study assessed the clinical characteristics of patients suffering from Behcet's disease (BD)-associated oral ulcers and investigated the effect of these oral ulcers on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

METHODS

This study included BD patients suffering from active oral ulcers, defined by the revised International Criteria for BD (ICBD) criteria. We collected BD and oral ulcers characteristics. The oral ulcer activity index and OHRQoL were measured by composite index (CI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), respectively.

RESULTS

Genital and ocular manifestations were the most frequent. Ocular manifestations were the main diagnostic manifestation. The mean age of BD diagnosis and first oral ulcer appearance were 32.15 ± 8.96 and 29.62 ± 9.04, respectively. Minor oral ulcers were more frequent; solitary or multiple. CI revealed that pain was more severe than functional disability. OHIP-14 showed that patients suffered more often from pain and difficulties in eating. Patients reported feeling tense, being irritable, doing usual job with difficulty, and having less satisfying life.

CONCLUSION

BD-associated oral ulcers lead to poor quality of life. Female gender, multiple ulcers, and buccal mucosa were associated with more severe pain and functional disability as well as poorer quality of life.