Prevalence profile perceived stress and impact on quality of life for recurrent aphthous ulcers: a cross-sectional epidemiological study in Egypt

Recurrent Aphthous Ulcerations (RAU) are among the most frequent oral ulcers with unknown etiology and multiple risk factors. This study assessed the prevalence profile of aphthous ulcers, risk factors, levels of perceived stress, and their impact on quality of life in an Egyptian sample. This study involved screening 4100 individuals from the outpatient clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, The British University in Egypt, and several Egyptian governorates. Patients were subjected to clinical examination and patient interviews for accurate diagnosis and collection of data. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to assess levels of perceived stress, and the Oral Health Impact Profile-5 (OHIP-5) was used to assess oral health-related quality of life. RAU affected 2.6% of the studied sample, 62.9% were females, and 37.1% were males, 33.3% of cases fell in the age range of 15 to 24, and 44.8% were 25 to 34 years. The minor type represented 83.8% of RAU cases, the major type represented 11.4%, and the herpetiform type represented 4.8%. High perceived stress was reported in 49.5% of cases, and moderate levels at 45.7%. PSS score was significantly correlated with RAU’s frequency, duration, and pain intensity, and the OHIP-5 score was significantly correlated with RAU’s duration and pain intensity. The level of perceived stress substantially influences the frequency, duration, and pain intensity of RAU episodes, which are correlated with a worse effect on the patient’s quality of life; thus, stress management would be beneficial in reducing the negative effect of RAU on the quality of the patient’s life.