Odontogenic phlegmon of the maxillofacial region (OPhMFR) is common, but many issues of patient care have not been sufficiently studied. In particular, the effect of obesity (O), polymorbidity (P) caused by chronic noninfectious socially related human diseases on the quality of life (QOL) and indicators of the mental health cluster of the patients still has not been studied. The aim of the research was to study the quality of life, polymorbidity, and mental health cluster indicators in obese patients withodontogenic phlegmon of the maxillofacial region to further develop predictive approaches for the clinical course, complications, and the treatment complexity. Materials and methods. In a prospective study, a group of 120 patients with OPhMFR was observed by continuous sampling (72 males, 48 females). Depending on the body weight, the patients were divided into 8 subgroups. In all patients, the body mass index (BMI), QOL indicators (SF-36 method), polymorbidity index (PI) (according to Zhuravlev Yu.I., et al.), the severity of depression (D) and anxiety (A) (according to Zigmond A.S., et al.) were studied.
Results. Abnormal body weight was detected in 58.2% of patients with OPhMFR. At the same time, in 6,8% of cases, body weight deficiency was noted, and in half of cases (51,6%) – overweight (25,8%) and O. In 17,5% of cases, there was grade I O (31,8+0,27), in 6,6% – grade II (36,4+0,32) and in 1,6% – grade III (morbid)(49,1+6,2). A moderate degree P was observed in the overall cohort (PI of 0,79+0,01c.u.). In more than half of cases (68 people, 56,6%), the degree of P was low (PI was in the range of 0,92-0,8 c.u.). In two cases, high P (PI 0,35+0,02 c.u.) was detected. All patients had QOL alterations. The integrative index of QOL (IQLI) inthe groups did not exceed 70. The highest CPI was found in patients with normalweight (62,3+5,2). The IQLI tended to decline in the group of overweight patients. Unidirectional shifts were identified towards an increase in BMI, P, A and D levels, while QOL indicators were decreasing.
Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the influence of O, especially — morbid,associated with P, on the QOL of patients with OPhMFR and their psycho-emotional sphere. An unfavorable premorbid background in patients with OPhMFR may contribute to the development of complications, deterioration of thepostoperative period course, increasing the time of staying in bed and the complexity of treatment.Physicians working in specialized hospitals are recommended to evaluate BMI, P and QOL in order to predict the course of OPhMFR.
Key words: odontogenic phlegmon, maxillofacial region, obesity, quality of life, depression, anxiety
Conflicts of interest. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding. There was no funding for this study.