The Croatian Primary Sjögren’s Disease Oral Health Study: Oral Status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

To determine salivary flow rate, oral and periodontal status, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), objective and subjective indexes, and serum antibody reactivity in patients with primary Sjögren’s disease (pSD). Thirty-one patients with pSD and 31 control subjects participated in this cross-sectional, single-center study. The unstimulated whole salivary flow rate (UWSFR) and stimulated whole salivary flow rate (SWSFR), salivary pH, DMFT index (DMFT = D—decayed, M—missing, F—filled tooth), periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), interincisal distance, OHRQoL, objective European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) SS Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and subjective (EULAR SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), 6-items-VAS-SS (Visual Analog Scale), Profile of Fatigue) indexes were analyzed. The patients with pSD had a blood sample taken in the morning between 7 and 10 a.m. for comprehensive laboratory analysis. Patients with pSD had statistically significant lower UWSFR (0.20 vs. 0.90 mL/min) and SWSFR (0.56 vs. 1.64 mL/min) values compared with control subjects (p < 0.001, Mann-Withney U test). Salivary pH value of pSD patients was significantly lower compared with control subjects (6.00 vs. 7.00; p < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). The mean DMFT index of patients with pSD compared to control subjects was not statistically significant (23.74 ± 7.28 vs. 20.77 ± 5.73; p = 0.08, t-test). Interincisal distance was significantly decreased in the pSD group compared with control subjects (43.80 ± 0.38 vs. 47.60 ± 0.50; p = 0.003, t-test). The prevalence of periodontitis was similar in patients with pSD and control subjects (83.9% vs. 77.4%; p = 0.35, λ(2) test). The mean Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49) total score was statistically significantly higher in pSD patients compared with control subjects (32.00 vs. 8.00; p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test). Patients with pSD have decreased salivary flow and salivary pH, poor oral health, decreased interincisal distance, high prevalence of periodontitis, and worse OHRQoL. These findings highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the management of patients with pSD that includes physical and psychological aspects of the disease.