Periodontitis and dental quality of life predict long-term survival in head and neck cancer

• Published in: BMC oral health 2024-11, Vol.24 (1), p.1406-15, Article 1406
• Main Authors: Farran, Mirna, Neppelberg, Evelyn, Løes, Sigbjørn, Aarstad, Anne K H, Moe, Svein Erik, Aarstad, Hans Jørgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol; Alveolar bone; Alveolar Bone Loss - diagnostic imaging; Bone loss; Cancer therapies; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - psychology; Cell survival; Comorbidity; Dental enamel; Dental health; Diagnosis; Female; Gum disease; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck; Head and neck cancer; Head and neck carcinoma; Head and Neck Neoplasms - complications; Head and Neck Neoplasms - mortality; Head and Neck Neoplasms - psychology; Health aspects; Health-related quality of life; HPV; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Laryngeal cancer; Long bone; Male; Medical prognosis; Middle Aged; Molars; Mortality; Norway; Oral carcinoma; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Osteoprotegerin; Papillomavirus infections; Patient outcomes; Patients; Periodontal diseases; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - complications; Premolars; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Radiation therapy; Radiography, Panoramic; Risk factors; Smoking; Squamous cell carcinoma; Surgery; Survival Rate; Teeth; Tobacco; Tumors
• ISSN: 1472-6831; 1472-6831
• DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-05170-0

Our aim was to investigate oral health in newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in relation to long-term survival. We assessed whether the level of alveolar bone loss due to periodontitis at diagnosis, measured from orthopantomogram (OPG), and reported dental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores obtained at diagnosis contain prognostic information for HNSCC patients. A total of 79 patients from a consecutive cohort of 106 diagnosed with HNSCC between November 2002 and June 2005 were included. All patients reported dental HRQoL, OPG-determined alveolar bone loss were measured in 79 patients at diagnosis. Reduced alveolar bone loss (≥ 4 mm) from cement-enamel junction on at least two molars or premolars registered both horizontally and vertically served as indicator of periodontal disease. With alveolar bone loss, we determined increased mortality by univariate analysis (RR = 2.28, CI: 1.22-4.28, p = 0.01) and a strong trend by multivariate analyses adjusted for standard clinical information (RR = 1.95, CI: 0.98-3.87, p = 0.056). Reported lowered dental HRQoL scores predicted long-term survival in both univariate (RR = 3.58, CI: 1.99-6.45, p