Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 May 1;24 (3):e392-7. Oral health in chronic liver disease e392 Journal section: Medically compromised patients in Dentistry Publication Types: Research Quality of life, work ability and oral health among patients with chronic liver diseases Inácio Aguiar 1 , Liliane Lins-Kusterer 2 , Larissa-Souza-Santos Lins 3 , Raymundo Paraná 4 , Jorge Bastos 4 , Fernando-Martins Carvalho 5 1 Odontólogo, Mestre em Medicina e Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil 2 Associate Professor, Doutora em Patologia Humana, Departmento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil 3 Estudante de Odontologia, Escola de Odontologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil 4 Professor Titular, Departmento de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil 5 Professor Titular, Departmento de Medicina Preventiva e Social, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil Correspondence: Praça XV de Novembro Largo do Terreiro de Jesus s/n CEP 400260-10 Salvador, Bahia Brasil, liliane.lins@ufba.br Received: 04/12/2018 Accepted: 04/02/2019 Abstract Background: This study aimed to explore the associations between health-related quality of life and work ability with the oral health status of patients with chronic liver disease. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 150 patients with chronic liver disease, consecutively seen at University Hospital, Salvador, Brazil. Oral health was evaluated by the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and by the presence of gingivitis and periodontitis. Salivary fow was “reduced” when <1.0 mL/ min. Health-related quality of life was evaluated by using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36); work ability was evaluated by the Work Ability Index questionnaire. Results: All health-related quality of life indicators were systematically lower among the 99 patients with reduced salivary fow than among the 51 patients with normal salivary fow. Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, and Physical Component Summary scores were strongly correlated (P < 0.005 or less) with the number of Missing Teeth and with DMFT index. Reduced salivary fow was associated (P < 0.05) with poor work ability. Patients with poor or moderate work ability presented higher (P < 0.001) means of the DMFT index than those with good or excellent work ability. Conclusions: Patients with chronic liver disease who present poor oral health presented low health-related quality of life and poor work ability. These fndings reinforce the need of these patients for specialized stomatological care. Key words: Xerostomia, dental health surveys, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease. doi:10.4317/medoral.22918 http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.4317/medoral.22918 Aguiar I, Lins-Kusterer L, Lins LSS, Paraná R, Bastos J, Carvalho FM. Quality of life, work ability and oral health among patients with chronic liver diseases. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 May 1;24 (3):e392-7. http://www.medicinaoral.com/medoralfree01/v24i3/medoralv24i3p392.pdf Article Number: 22918 http://www.medicinaoral.com/ © Medicina Oral S. L. C.I.F. B 96689336 - pISSN 1698-4447 - eISSN: 1698-6946 eMail: medicina@medicinaoral.com Indexed in: Science Citation Index Expanded Journal Citation Reports Index Medicus, MEDLINE, PubMed Scopus, Embase and Emcare Indice Médico Español