A self-reported survey on oral health problems in inflammatory bowel disease patients with a stoma

Abstract Objectives Inflammatory bowel disease patients have an increased risk of developing oral health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate whether oral diseases in these patients are related to inflammation of the intestine and if there is a correlation between inflammatory bowel disease-specific health related quality of life (IBD-HR-QOL) and oral health problems. Study design The study was a cross-sectional survey and analysis of self-reported oral health of individuals with a stoma due to Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and treated colon cancer (CC). Validated international questionnaires were sent to members of Stoma Federation Netherlands. Since there was an unequal distribution of male and female CD and CC patients, data of 169 age-matched female CD, UC and CC patients with a stoma were analysed. Results CD patients had significant more oral health problems compared to UC and CC patients. Both CD an UC patients had significantly more gingival related problems compared to CC patients. There was a significant negative correlation between IBD-HR-QOL and oral health problems. Conclusions In the three distinguishable groups of patients with a stoma, CD patients had an increased risk for oral health problems, independently from surgical removal of (a part of) the inflamed intestine, suggesting a general increased susceptibility of CD patients for oral health problems.