Periodontitis and dental quality of life predict long-term survival in head and neck cancer.

Background: Our aim was to investigate oral health in newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in relation to long-term survival. We assessed whether the level of alveolar bone loss due to periodontitis at diagnosis, measured from orthopantomogram (OPG), and reported dental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores obtained at diagnosis contain prognostic information for HNSCC patients.

Methods: A total of 79 patients from a consecutive cohort of 106 diagnosed with HNSCC between November 2002 and June 2005 were included. All patients reported dental HRQoL, OPG-determined alveolar bone loss were measured in 79 patients at diagnosis. Reduced alveolar bone loss (≥ 4 mm) from cement-enamel junction on at least two molars or premolars registered both horizontally and vertically served as indicator of periodontal disease.

Results: With alveolar bone loss, we determined increased mortality by univariate analysis (RR = 2.28, CI: 1.22-4.28, p = 0.01) and a strong trend by multivariate analyses adjusted for standard clinical information (RR = 1.95, CI: 0.98-3.87, p = 0.056). Reported lowered dental HRQoL scores predicted long-term survival in both univariate (RR = 3.58, CI: 1.99-6.45, p < 0.001) and multivariate adjusted for standard clinical information (RR = 2.17, CI: 1.17-4.01, p = 0.014). When analyzed with Cox regression, including alveolar bone loss and dental HRQoL, both factors, adjusted by clinical variables, were significant predictors of long-term survival: dental HRQoL (p = 0.007) and present alveolar bone loss (p = 0.034). Non-HNSCC disease-specific long-term survival predicted was also predicted when alveolar bone loss and dental HRQoL were analyzed simultaneously and adjusted for standard clinical information.

Conclusions: The degree of alveolar bone loss, as determined by OPG, and dental HRQoL both obtained at the time of HNSCC diagnosis, predicted long-term survival. When analyzed simultaneously, both factors remained significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses, adjusted by pertinent clinical variables, highlighting their unique prognostic value.