Impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is the most common hemoglobinopathy in Brazil and worldwide and is part of a group of chronic genetic diseases resulting from abnormalities in the structure of hemoglobin. Aim To evaluate the impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life (QoL) of children and adolescents with SCA. Design This is a cross‐sectional study with a sample of 76 children and adolescents aged 8–14 years. For inclusion, they were required to have a diagnosis of HbSS SCA in their medical records, without a pain crisis or any dental emergency in the last three months. The children and adolescents with SCA were from Hematology and Hemotherapy Center of Maranhão. Demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, oral hygiene, caries, malocclusion, and oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) were assessed. OHRQoL was assessed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Student's t and Mann−Whitney tests were performed ( α = 5%). Results Brown race was the most prevalent for both age groups (8–10 years—63.2% and 11–14 years—57.9%). Predominant monthly family income for both age groups was below $106. Visible plaque and gingival bleeding were higher in children aged 8–10 years. Dental caries significantly impacted the QoL of adolescents through the domain “oral symptom” ( p = .031). Malocclusion significantly impacted the QoL of adolescents (“total score,” p = .026; “social well‐being”, p = .045). Conclusion Oral health impairment negatively affected the QoL of adolescents with SCA.