Caries prevalence and impact on oral health-related quality of life in children with sickle cell disease: cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) may present oral conditions that can compromise children's health even more. However, there is still no consensus on the association between SCD and dental caries. The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), and the association of dental caries with socioeconomic factors, disease severity, and oral-health related to quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: The sample was comprised of 106 children with SCD aged 8 to 14 years who were attending the Center for Hematology (Hemominas) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They were matched to 385 healthy peers. Data collection included interviews with guardians concerning SCD characteristics, and previous social and oral examinations to determine the caries prevalence. Caries prevalence as measured through the Decayed, Missing and Filled (dmft and DMFT) indices. OHRQoL was evaluated through the Brazilian versions of the Child Perceptions Questionnaires (CPQ(8–10), and CPQ(11–14) short-form version). Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test or Fisher`s exact test and the Mann Whitney test, as well as linear regression. RESULTS: The DMFT index was 1.3 (SD: 2.1) in younger children with SCD and 1.5 (SD: 1.9) in SCD teens. Younger children with SCD had lower caries experience compared to healthy peers (p = .03). The experience of dental caries among teens with SCD was similar to healthy peers (p > 0.05). In addition, we did not see a significant difference on the mean overall scores of CPQ(8–10) between SCD younger children and controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean overall scores of teens CPQ11-14 between SCD and the control group. Socioeconomic variables were not associated with dental caries in the participants with SCD. However, SCD severity was associated with higher DMFT indexes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Younger children with SCD had a low experience of dental caries. The dental caries experience in teenagers with SCD was similar to their healthy peers. OHRQoL was similar between SCD participants and controls.