Oral Health-related Quality of Life in HIV: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Aim: To systematically evaluate the literature evidence related to oral health and quality of life (QoL) among HIV-positive adults. Background: The oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is an essential entity to be measured for understanding the domains afected due to oral health problems. HIV comes with an array of complexities in the oral cavity and is also refection of the systemic illness of the oral cavity. Hence, it is essential to know the area afected and also the lesions that contribute the most to decrease the QoL in this aspect. A systematic review was carried out in relation to studies across PubMed and Google Scholar regarding HIV and OHRQoL from January 1970 to May 2019. Of the 1,374 articles screened, 11 studies were fltered for the fnal review. Review results: The physical domain followed by the psychological domain is the most afected in the HIV-positive patients. The maximum efect is due to dental caries and periodontitis. No studies report about oral substance abuse and its efect. Conclusion: Studies are further needed on a larger sample size and on similar scales and parameters to ensure greater evidence for intervention related to areas that should be focused upon for improving the QoL of HIV-positive patients. Clinical signifcance: There is a greater need to include quality-based assessment while treating HIV-positive people. Also not just physical indicators like pain or dental caries, even social indicators like mental and social dimensions of a patient’s life should be included while deciding the treatment approach.