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Methamphetamine use and oral health-related quality of life

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Abstract

Purpose

Methamphetamine (MA) is associated with adverse health effects, including the rampant tooth decay condition called “Meth Mouth.” However, the impact of MA use on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) is unknown. This study assessed the relationship between MA use and self-reported OHRQOL.

Methods

This cross-sectional study uses information from 545 MA-using participants recruited from Los Angeles County, California. Dental examinations were performed by three calibrated dentists using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) protocols. Data on socio-demographic, behavioral, and drug-use history were recorded using questionnaires. Participants were categorized as ‘light’ or ‘moderate/heavy’ users based on reported frequency of MA use in the past 30 days. Route of MA administration was categorized as ‘smoking’ or ‘other.’ Self-reported OHRQOL was based on the Oral Health Impact Profile scale.

Results

Majority of the participants were male (80.9%). Median age was 45.0 years (IQR-13.0). Median number of days of MA use was 10.0 (IQR-12.0). Smoking was the preferred route of MA use (70.2%). Root caries in ≥ 3 teeth were reported in 78% of MA users. More than half of the participants reported having painful aching in mouth, avoidance of particular food items, feeling embarrassed, and discomfort while eating in the last 12 months. In unadjusted logistic models, moderate/heavy MA users were more likely to report an affected sense of taste [OR = 1.58, 95% CI (1.10–2.27)] and avoidance of particular foods [OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.02–2.01)] than light users. Among individuals preferring other MA administration routes, moderate/heavy MA users were 3.09 times as likely to report an affected sense of taste than light users [OR = 3.09, 95% CI (1.52−6.27)].

Conclusion

Oral health and OHRQOL appear to be worse among Methamphetamine users than in the US general population.

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Funding

Parent study Grant Number: R01 DA025680. Granting agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health (Recipient: Dr. Vivek Shetty).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIH, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 31 Center Drive Suite 5B55, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2190, USA

    Amrita Mukherjee & Bruce A. Dye

  2. UCLA, School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Office 23-009CHS, Box 951668, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1668, USA

    Jason Clague & Vivek Shetty

  3. Department of Biostatistics, UCLA, Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Room 51-267, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Jason Clague & Thomas R. Belin

  4. NIDCR Dental Public Health Residency Program, NIH/NIDCR, 31 Center Drive Suite 5B55, Bethesda, MD, 20892-2190, USA

    Bruce A. Dye

Authors
  1. Amrita Mukherjee
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  2. Bruce A. Dye
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  3. Jason Clague
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  4. Thomas R. Belin
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  5. Vivek Shetty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruce A. Dye.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Mukherjee, A., Dye, B.A., Clague, J. et al. Methamphetamine use and oral health-related quality of life. Qual Life Res 27, 3179–3190 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1957-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-018-1957-6

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