The impact of oral diseases on the quality of life of patients attending the oral medicine clinic at a dental speciality centre

Background: Oral mucosal diseases (OMDs) are common and can severely affect quality of life through pain, functional limitations, and psychological distress. Their prevalence is influenced by lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and healthcare access, making early diagnosis and effective management essential for improving patient outcomes. Aims: To assess OHRQoL in individuals affected by a variety of OMDs, examine the influence of demographic and clinical characteristics on quality-of-life outcomes, and provide insights into the factors most strongly associated with OHRQoL in this population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at an oral medicine clinic in Kuwait. Patients diagnosed with oral mucosal diseases who provided informed consent completed a paper-based, Arabic-translated version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. The survey collected demographic data and assessed the physical, psychological, and social impacts of oral disease on quality of life. Chi-square, Spearman correlation, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis, and regression tests were used to examine the associations between different variables at α= 0.05. Results: A total of 103 patients with OMDs and 103 matched controls were included. Patients reported significantly higher psychological discomfort (P = .007) and psychological disability (P = .011) compared to controls. Females had worse Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) scores than males (P < .05), while patients with premalignant and malignant lesions experienced the greatest impairments. Reactive lesions were associated with better OHRQoL outcomes than immune/infectious and malignant lesions (P < .05). Conclusions: OMDs significantly impair oral health-related quality of life, particularly in psychological domains, with gender and disease type emerging as key determinants. Incorporating psychosocial support into routine care is essential to enhance patient outcomes.