ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of Oro-dental health parameters and fungal infection with the severity of oral mucositis (OM) in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
Study design: This cross-sectional study was carried out among cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at a tertiary institution in south western Nigeria. Oral pain, oral hygiene status, periodontitis, gingivitis and fungal infection and their relationship with OM were investigated.
Results: Among 82 patients that were assessed, OM was present in 44 (53.66%) participants. Oral pain was present in 47 (57.32%) participants and 42 (95.45%) of those with OM (p <0.001). Periodontitis was present in 9(20.25%; p =0.947), severe gingivitis in 3 (6.82%; p =0.067) and poor oral hygiene in 6(13.64%; p =0.214) participants with OM. Severe OM (Grades 3 and 4) was present in 5 (6.09%) participants. All participants with severe OM had severe pain (p d” 0.001). In patients with severe mucositis, periodontitis was present in 2 (p =0.750), while severe gingivitis was observed in 1 (p =0.359) participant. Four out of the five participants with severe mucositis had poor oral hygiene (p =0.004). Fungal infection was present in 45(54.88%) participants and 31 (70.45%) of those with OM ( p =0.002). Ordered logistic regression also showed that fungal infection was associated with a fourfold risk of increased severity of OM (OR 3.9, CI 1.57, 9.87, p = 0.004).
Conclusion:Our study showed that increased severity of OM was associated with a higher grade of pain and poor oral hygiene. Fungal infection was associated with increased prevalence and a fourfold risk of increased severity of OM.