Impact of oral diseases on the quality of life of children with sickle cell disease in two hospitals in the city of Yaoundé: a multicenter analytical study

Abstract

Context: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of oral and dental diseases on the quality of life of children s with sickle cell disease.

Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in two hospitals in Yaounde from January to April 2025, involving sickle cell children followed up and managed at the Mother and Child Center of the Chantal Biya Foundation and at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital. Socio-demographic, oral data and quality of life were collected using a pre-tested data sheet. Oral diseases were recorded during an oral examination. Quality of life was assessed using the COHIP-SF-19 questionnaire, Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0 and Python software. Version 3.9.

Results: 200 children with sickle cell disease (SD 10.95 ± 3.53 years) were recruited, with a sex ratio of 1. The main oral diseases found were malocclusions (91.5%), dental caries (75.5%), gingivitis (39%) and maxillary prognathism (8%). One third of the children (34.5%) had a poor quality of life. The presence of dental caries (p = 0.001), gingivitis (p = 0.0007) and malocclusions (p < 0.001) was associated with poor quality of life in children with sickle cell disease. Malocclusions also significantly affected socio-emotional well-being (p = 0.0002), school functioning (p = 0.001) and self-image (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: One-third of children with sickle cell disease recruited had a poor quality of life. This was associated with dental caries, gingivitis and malocclusions.