Oral health status of the disabled compared with that of the non-disabled in Korea: A propensity score matching analysis

BackgroundThere are many types of disabilities, and each type has a variety related to socioeconomic factors. Such factors affect to many health problems of the disabled. However, surveys of the oral health status of the disabled in Korea are rare.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to estimate oral health disparity through comparing oral health status of the disabled to the non-disabled, adjusted for the net effect of the disability on oral health status.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among the disabled in urban and suburban areas in Korea from June to September 2016. People with physical, mental, and multiple disabilities took part in this survey. The clinical examinations were carried out by trained dentists. Statistical analysis was performed to quantify the association between oral health and socioeconomic status after restricting the analysis using a propensity score matching method.ResultsThe disabled had more DMFT, DT, and MT, fewer FT, and fewer teeth than the non-disabled based on entire groups (PConclusionsThese results represent poor oral health status of the disabled compared to the non-disabled. Consequentially, we can verify that not only the existence of disability but also the type of disability has a decisive effect on oral health condition. This comparison is necessary to widen our approach to evaluate the actual status condition of the disabled.研究背景：残疾类型繁多，且每一类残疾均存在多种与之相关的社会经济因素。此类因素会对残疾人群体的诸多健康问题产生影响。然而，目前韩国针对残疾人口腔健康状况开展的调研却较为匮乏。 研究目的：本研究旨在通过对比残疾人群与非残疾人群的口腔健康状况，并校正残疾对口腔健康状况的净效应，以此评估口腔健康公平性差异。 研究方法：本研究于2016年6月至9月期间，针对韩国城市及郊区的残疾人群体开展横断面研究。研究对象涵盖肢体残疾、精神残疾及多重残疾人群。临床检查由经过专业培训的牙医完成。本研究采用倾向得分匹配法（propensity score matching method）对分析范围进行限定后，开展统计学分析以量化口腔健康状况与社会经济地位之间的关联。 研究结果：整体队列分析显示，残疾人群的DMFT、DT及MT指数均高于非残疾人群，而FT指数及存留牙数则低于非残疾人群（P 研究结论：上述结果表明，相较于非残疾人群，残疾人群的口腔健康状况更差。据此可证实，不仅残疾的存在与否，残疾类型同样对口腔健康状况具有决定性影响。开展此类对比研究，有助于拓展我们评估残疾人群实际健康状况的研究路径。