Chemosensory Dysfunction, Oral Disorders, and Its Association with Oral Health-related Quality of Life Among Patients with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study in Bengaluru City

Background and Objectives: Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome (pSS) clinically manifests with oral mucosal infections, low secretion of saliva, increased caries experience, and alteration of the oral microbiome which has a considerable impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The objective of the current study was to determine the chemosensory dysfunction, oral disorders, and to determine their association with OHRQoL among subjects with pSS and the non-Sjogren’s syndrome group. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 300 subjects aged 18–70 years in Bangalore city. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the self-perception of smell (olfactory) and taste (gustatory). Oral health was assessed using the World Health Organization Oral Health Assessment Form for Adults 2013. Oral health-related quality of life was determined using the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Results: The mean age of the subjects with pSS and non-Sjogren’s syndrome was 49.81 ± 10.16 and 50.22 ± 9.04 years. The majority of the subjects in the pSS group had mild loss of olfactory and gustatory function. A high proportion of subjects in the pSS group had caries experience (90.6%), gingival bleeding (82%), periodontal pocket (80%), and loss of attachment (47.3%) compared to non-SS subjects. The VAS olfactory and gustatory scores positively correlated with caries experience and gingival bleeding in the pSS subjects. OHIP-14 had a weakly significant correlation with the oral health indicators in the pSS group. Conclusion: There was an association between chemosensory dysfunction, oral disorders, and oral health-related quality of life among pSS subjects. Hence, it is essential to assess the olfactory and gustatory function and the oral health of the subjects with pSS to improve the oral health-related quality of life.