Oral Health-related quality of life in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis

Purpose : To compare the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of 8- to 12-year-old children and 13- to 17-year-old adolescents diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Materials and methods : Participants were recruited from a Midwest CF center. Parents provided demographic information and their assessment of the child's health. Patients completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP). Results : Thirty-nine child-parent pairs participated. Fifty four percent of the patients were male, 87% Caucasian, and 56% adolescent, with 66% of families reporting an annual income of over $100,000. Excellent or very good health, including oral health, was reported by 67% of the patients. Individuals taking 10 or more medications reported better OHRQoL while Caucasians reported better oral health and total scores than other races. Adolescents had poorer total COHIP, social-emotional wellbeing, and self-image scores. Conclusion : Although most patients reported good or excellent oral health, adolescents reported a poorer OHRQoL than younger patients.