Impact of tongue lesions on health-related quality of life in Brazilian para-athletes: an observational study

Impacto de lesões linguais na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal de para-atletas brasileiros: um estudo observacional

Impacto de las lesiones linguales em la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal de para-atletas brasileños: un estudio observacional

ABSTRACT

Geographic tongue (GT) and fissured tongue (FT) are inflammatory disorders that cause pain and discomfort. However, they need to be studied in para-athletes. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of both conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Brazilian para-athletes. The clinical diagnosis for GT and FT was made during a selective competition, and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire was applied to all participants. 261 para-athletes, with a median age of 29 years (IQR, 22-38), were included. Eighteen (6.9%) had GT, and most were female (p= 0.010). GT causes a great negative impact on OHRQoL (OHIP= 16) in the physical disability (2, IQR= 0.00-2.75, p= 0.016), psychological disability (2, IQR= 1.00-4.00, p= 0.014), and handicap (1, IQR= 1.00-2.00, p= 0.004) domains of OHIP, whereas FT causes no significant adverse impact (p= 0.406). It concludes that the GT is responsible for the worst para-athletes perception of physical and psychological disability in addition to handicap.

Keywords:
Para-athletes; Geographic tongue; Disabled persons; Quality of life