Oral Health Impact Profile in Patients with and without Type 2 Diabetes in Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) serves as a crucial tool in understanding the intricate relationship between oral health and systemic conditions like type 2 Diabetes. This study delves into the comparative analysis of OHIP in patients with and without type 2 diabetes, shedding light on the nuanced impact of this metabolic disorder on oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL). By scrutinising factors such as oral discomfort, functional limitations and psychological well-being, this research aims to unearth valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by diabetic individuals in maintaining optimal oral health. Such findings hold immense significance in guiding tailored interventions and enhancing holistic healthcare approaches. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 232 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Clinical examinations were conducted, and a validated Arabic version of the OHIP-14 instrument was used. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: In total, 232 patients with and without diabetes were included in this study. A statistically significant effect was observed amongst diabetic compared to non-diabetic participants (P = 0.015). The overall OHrQoL across the seven domains of participants with diabetes was significantly lower than those without diabetes (P = 0.0001). Oral lesions were more common and showed statistically significant effects amongst diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes have shown undesirable oral health which impacted their quality of life compared to those without diabetes. Future research focusing on developing preventive interventional strategies for diabetic patients, in addition to enhancing the awareness of oral diseases and dental care amongst those patients, is highly encouraged. Developing a standardised protocol with a unified OHrQoL instrument and methodological statistical analysis approaches that could be generalised and used worldwide periodically amongst diabetic patients may also be advocated.