Associations between Emotional Distress, Sleep Changes, Decreased Tooth Brushing Frequency, Self-Reported Oral Ulcers and SARS-Cov-2 Infection during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey
Year: 2022
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study assessed the association between emotional distress, sleep changes, decreased frequency of tooth brushing, and self-reported oral ulcers, and the association between COVID-19 status and decreased frequency of tooth brushing. Using a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from adults in 152 countries between July and December 2020. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between dependent (decreased frequency of tooth brushing, oral ulcers, change in sleep pattern) and independent (tested positive for COVID-19, depression, anxiety, frustration/boredom, loneliness, anger, and grief/feeling of loss) variables after adjusting for confounders (age, sex, level of education, employment status). Of the 14,970 participants data analyzed, 1856 (12.4%) tested positive for COVID-19. Respondents who reported feeling depressed (AoR: 1.375), lonely (AoR: 1.185), angry (AoR: 1.299), and experienced sleep changes (AoR:1.466) had significantly higher odds of decreased tooth brushing frequency. Respondents who felt anxious (AoR: 1.255), angry (AoR: 1.510), grief/sense of loss (AoR: 1.236), and sleep changes (AoR: 1.262) had significantly higher odds of oral ulcers. Respondents who tested positive for COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of decreased tooth brushing frequency (AoR: 1.237) and oral ulcers (AoR: 2.780). These findings highlight that the relationship between emotional distress and oral health may intensify during a pandemic.
Authors: Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuniga, Oliver C. Ezechi, Brandon Brown, Annie L. Nguyen, Nourhan M. Aly, Passent Ellakany, Ifeoma E. Idigbe, Abeedha Tu-Allah Khan, Folake Barakat Lawal, Mohammed Jafer, Balgis Gaffar, Bamidele Olubukola Popoola, Mir Faeq Ali Quadri, Jorma I. Virtanen, Joanne Lusher, Maha El Tantawi
Institutions: Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, University of California, Riverside, University of Southern California, Alexandria University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Superior University, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Jazan University, University of Washington, University of Turku, Regent's University London
Language: English
Topic: Dental Research and COVID-19
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,618
Funder: National Institute on Aging
Award: G5411250002
OpenAlex ID: W4296794486