Association between perceived oral and general health

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the association between perceived oral and general health-related quality of life (O/HRQoL) in the German general population and to compare it with the correlation of both constructs in dental patients.MethodsOHRQoL was assessed using the OHIP-49 and HRQoL using the SF-36 in a sample (N = 811) representative of the adult general population of Germany (age: 18-99 years), and in a sample (N = 313) of consecutive adult dental patients at least 18 years of age seeking prosthodontic care or attending their annual checkup. Correlation between OHRQoL and HRQoL was computed using structural equation modelling-based confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis. Based on the correlation coefficients, the coefficients of determination (r2) were calculated.ResultsCorrelation between OHRQoL and HRQoL after partialling out effects of age, gender and level of depression in general population subjects was rho = 0.28 resulting in an explanation of the variance of HRQoL by OHRQoL of 7.8%. In dental patients the correlation coefficient was somewhat lower (rho = 0.24) corresponding to an explanation of the variance of HRQoL by OHRQoL of 5.6%. Difference between correlation coefficients was not significant (p = 0.514).ConclusionOur findings provide evidence for the inseparable, intertwined relationship between perceived oral and general health.