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Oral health-related quality of life and somatization in the elderly

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Abstract

Objective

Somatization disorders are frequent in the elderly, and previous studies have revealed that psychological factors affect the outcome of measurement of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate the correlation between OHRQoL and somatization.

Methods

One-hundred and twenty-five participants aged 60 years or older (mean age 76.6 years; 40 males) from a primary geriatric medical hospital participated in this cross-sectional study. OHRQoL was assessed by using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), somatization by using the somatization subscale of the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R). To obtain dental data we performed a clinical dental examination.

Results

In bivariate analyses the most consistent correlation with somatization was found for overall OHIP sum score and the subscales physical pain and functional limitation (r > 0.4). Participants with high somatization scores had high OHIP sum scores. In multivariate analysis somatization led to additional explanation of the variance of the OHIP sum score and of all OHIP subscales.

Conclusions

There is consistent correlation between OHRQoL and somatization. When evaluating OHRQoL in the elderly (using the OHIP) further evaluation of somatization should be considered for thorough interpretation of the results.

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Abbreviations

OHRQoL:

oral health-related quality of life

OHIP:

Oral Health Impact Profile

OHIP-SUM:

OHIP sum score

SCL-90-R:

Symptom Check List

SD:

standard deviation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prosthodontics; Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Alexander J. Hassel, Marc Schmitter & Michael Leckel

  2. Department of Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Heidelberg, Central Institute of Mental Health, Square J 5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany

    Claudia Rolko

  3. St. Vincentius Hospital, Untere Neckarstr. 1–5, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    Joachim Leisen & Walter Rexroth

Authors
  1. Alexander J. Hassel
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  2. Claudia Rolko
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  3. Joachim Leisen
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  4. Marc Schmitter
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  5. Walter Rexroth
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  6. Michael Leckel
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Correspondence to Alexander J. Hassel.

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Hassel, A.J., Rolko, C., Leisen, J. et al. Oral health-related quality of life and somatization in the elderly. Qual Life Res 16, 253–261 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9122-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-006-9122-z

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