Oral health related quality of life and the prevalence of ageusia and xerostomia in active and recovered COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background Salivary disturbance is associated with patients who either have an active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or have recovered from coronavirus infection along with loss of taste sensation. In addition, COVID-19 infection can drastically compromise quality of life of individuals. Objective This study aimed to analyze xerostomia, ageusia and the oral health impact in coronavirus disease-19 patients utilizing the Xerostomia Inventory scale-(XI) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14. Methods In this cross-sectional survey-based study, data was collected from 301 patients who suffered and recovered from COVID-19. Using Google Forms, a questionnaire was developed and circulated amongst those who were infected and recovered from coronavirus infection. The Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 were used to assess the degree and quality of life. A paired T-test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the effect on xerostomia inventory scale-(XI) and OHIP-14 scale scores. A p-value of 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Among 301 participants, 54.8% were females. The prevalence of xerostomia in participants with active COVID-19 disease was 39.53% and after recovery 34.88%. The total OHIP-14 scores for patients in the active phase of infection was 12.09, while 12.68 in recovered patients. A significant difference was found between the mean scores of the xerostomia inventory scale-11 and OHIP-14 in active and recovered COVID patients. Conclusion A higher prevalence of xerostomia was found in COVID-19 infected patients (39.53%) compared to recovered patients (34.88%). In addition, more than 70% reported aguesia. COVID-19 had a significantly higher compromising impact on oral function of active infected patients compared to recovered patients.

Frequency of Oral Lesions, Olfactory, and Gustatory Disorders and Xerostomia in Patients with COVID-19

“…Although the precise mechanisms of xerostomia in COVID-19 patients are not fully understood, it has been hypothesized that alterations in saliva composition and flow could be directly caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection of the salivary glands [ 35 ]. Therefore, as observed in Saleem et al’s (2023) study, the literature lacks objective evidence, and for a more precise analysis, it is essential to conduct objective assessments using validated, repeatable, and standardized tests to establish the frequency, extent, and cause of xerostomia in patients with COVID-19 [ 36 ].…”