Development of an Oral Health Index and Its Association with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Cardiovascular Risks: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study introduces a new Oral Health Index that links poor oral health to lower quality of life and higher cardiovascular risks.

Contribution

The novel Oral Health Index (OHI) integrates multiple clinical oral health parameters into a standardized, objective measure.

Findings

Higher OHI scores are associated with worse oral health-related quality of life.

Participants with cardiovascular risk factors had significantly higher OHI scores.

The OHI is directly linked to a greater cardiovascular risk burden, independent of age, sex, and comorbidities.

Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Oral health diseases are highly prevalent worldwide and are increasingly recognized as contributors to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.Current public health approaches often rely on fragmented oral indicators; this study addresses the need for a standardized, clinically feasible measure of overall oral health burden.

Oral health diseases are highly prevalent worldwide and are increasingly recognized as contributors to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

Current public health approaches often rely on fragmented oral indicators; this study addresses the need for a standardized, clinically feasible measure of overall oral health burden.

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
By demonstrating that poorer oral health is strongly associated with worse oral health-related quality of life and a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors, this work reinforces the role of oral health as an integral component of general health.The development and validation of the Oral Health Index (OHI) provide a novel, objective tool that can strengthen epidemiological surveillance, interdisciplinary research, and health monitoring.

By demonstrating that poorer oral health is strongly associated with worse oral health-related quality of life and a greater burden of cardiovascular risk factors, this work reinforces the role of oral health as an integral component of general health.

The development and validation of the Oral Health Index (OHI) provide a novel, objective tool that can strengthen epidemiological surveillance, interdisciplinary research, and health monitoring.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Practitioners may use the OHI as a practical screening tool to identify individuals at increased systemic health vulnerability, supporting earlier prevention and integrated care strategies.Policymakers and researchers can incorporate the OHI into population-based programs and studies to better evaluate oral–systemic health interactions and inform evidence-based public health planning and resource allocation.

Practitioners may use the OHI as a practical screening tool to identify individuals at increased systemic health vulnerability, supporting earlier prevention and integrated care strategies.

Policymakers and researchers can incorporate the OHI into population-based programs and studies to better evaluate oral–systemic health interactions and inform evidence-based public health planning and resource allocation.

The OHI demonstrated moderate internal consistency and consistent associations with oral health-related quality of life and cardiovascular risk indicators. Objective: The primary objective was to propose and internally assess an Oral Health Index (OHI) which integrates multiple clinically assessed oral health variables. The secondary objective was to investigate its association with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and common clinical cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Material and Methods: This observational study included 191 participants. Seven parameters (tooth loss, periodontal disease, endodontic involvement, residual roots, extractions due to periodontitis, inflammatory oral mucosal diseases, and dental maintenance and rehabilitation status) were combined using Z-scores to compute the OHI, with higher scores indicating poorer oral health. CVR factors included age/sex thresholds, education level, BMI, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, pulse pressure, and lung function. OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile. Results: Higher OHI scores were associated with poor oral health-related quality of life. Participants with cardiovascular risk factors had significantly higher OHI scores. The analysis demonstrated that the OHI was directly associated with worse oral health-related quality of life and a greater cardiovascular risk burden, independent of age, sex, and comorbidities. Conclusions: This study proposed and internally assessed the Oral Health Index, designed to integrate multiple clinical parameters into a single standardized measure of oral health. The OHI demonstrated moderate internal consistency and showed consistent associations with poorer oral health conditions, reduced oral health-related quality of life, and a greater cardiovascular risk burden.

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