THE IMPACT OF ORAL HEALTH ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH ONCO-HEMATOLOGICAL DISEASES

Oncohematological diseases (OHDs) comprise approximately 12% of cancer cases, originating from clonal mutations in hematopoietic or lymphoid cells. Determinate the impact of oral health on quality of life (QoL) of patients with onco-hematological diseases using the validated Portuguese version of OHIP-14 questionnaire. This retrospective study conducted in a period of 5 years analyzed 847 patient records of individuals who received treatment and/or dental follow-up at a clinical research center. Of those records, 45 individuals with OHDs were selected. The study received ethics approval (CAAE: 44525921.3.0000.5417). Of the 45 individuals, 33 presenting the complete validated portuguese version of OHIP-14 questionnaire were selected. The cohort (median age 55 years, range 9–79; 54.5% male) most frequently presented with multiple myeloma (31%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (18%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (13%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (13%).Oral health significantly compromised QoL across three domains: physical pain (p=0.010), psychological discomfort (p=0.002), and social disability (p=0.040). Common dental interventions—periodontal therapy (45.5%), restorations (36.4%), and extractions (33.3%) reflected pre-existing neglect due to OHD-related prioritization of systemic treatment. The findings underscore that oral health deterioration directly exacerbates the multidimensional burden of OHDs, necessitating integrated dental care within oncology protocols. Proactive measures include pretreatment oral infection control, patient education on hygiene (alcohol-free chlorhexidine, soft-bristled brushes), and timed interventions aligned with hematologic status (hemoglobin > 10 g/dL, WBC > 500/mm³, platelets > 30,000/mm³). Multidisciplinary coordination is critical to mitigate oral health impacts on QoL in this high-risk population.