Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Dental Sciences

.: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Comparison of the Frequencies of Dentistry Examinations Among Chronic Patients at High-Risk for COVID-19 Before and During the Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
COVID-19 İçin Yüksek Riskli Kronik Hastalarda Pandemi Öncesi ve Pandemide Diş Hekimliği Muayene Sıklıklarının Karşılaştırılması: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma
Numan DEDEOĞLUa, Oğuzhan ALTUNa, Şuayip Burak DUMANa, Büşra ARIKANa, Gözde EŞERa, Duygu ÇELİK ÖZENa
aDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, İnönü University Faculty of Dentistry, Malatya, Türkiye
Turkiye Klinikleri J Dental Sci. 2022;28(3):551-7
doi: 10.5336/dentalsci.2021-87743
Article Language: EN
Full Text
ABSTRACT
 Objective: This study aims to evaluate the frequency of dental examinations among chronic patients, a high-risk group for the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), before and during the pandemic. Material and Methods: A total of 27,757 patient records were evaluated. Patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular (DHC) diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and chronic kidney failure and transplant patients, cancer patients, pregnant women and patients aged above 65 years were accepted as having risky chronic health conditions for COVID-19. However, those with at least 2 or 3 of DHC diseases were considered as a separate group. The frequencies of patient groups' dental examinations were statistically compared for the period before and during the pandemic. In addition, the frequencies of patient groups dental examinations were also compared by gender for the general population and patients over 65 years of age. Results: The frequency of dental examinations statistically significant decreased among both male and female patients, aged over 65 years and general population during the pandemic compared to before period in DHC patients (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant decrease in the frequency of dental examinations during the pandemic compared to the previous period in any disease group (except DHC) in the general male population and males over 65 years of age (p˃0.05). Conclusion: Risky patients in DHC group were more careful in dental examinations during the pandemic. Men with risky chronic conditions may not have been feel anxious about COVID- 19 when they referred to the dentist during the pandemic.

Keywords: Dental service; COVID-19; chronic disease
ÖZET
 Amaç: Bu çalışmada, koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 [coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)] için yüksek risk grubu olan kronik hastalarda, pandemi öncesi ve pandemi sırasında diş muayenesi sıklığının değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Toplam 27.757 hasta kaydı değerlendirildi. Diabetes mellitus, hipertansiyon, kardiyovasküler (DHK) hastalıklar, kronik solunum yolu hastalıkları ve kronik böbrek yetersizliği ve nakil hastaları, kanser hastaları, gebeler ve 65 yaş üstü hastalar COVID-19 açısından riskli kronik sağlık durumlarına sahip olarak kabul edildi. Bununla beraber; DHK hastalıklarından en az 2 veya 3'ü olanlar ayrı bir grup olarak kabul edildi. Pandemi öncesi ve pandemi sırasında hasta gruplarının dental muayene sıklıkları istatistiksel olarak karşılaştırıldı. Ayrıca genel nüfus ve 65 yaş üstü hastalar için hasta grupları, dental muayene sıklıkları cinsiyete göre de karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Pandemi sırasında, hem erkek hem de kadın hastalarda, 65 yaş üstü ve genel popülasyonda dental muayene sıklığı DHK hastalarında önceki döneme göre istatistiksel olarak önemli düzeyde azaldı (p<0,05). Genel erkek popülasyonunda ve 65 yaş üstü erkek hastalarda, herhangi bir hastalık grubunda (DHK hariç) pandemi döneminde bir önceki döneme göre dental muayenesi sıklığında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir azalma olmadı (p˃0,05). Sonuç: Riskli DHK grubundaki hastalar, pandemi döneminde dental muayene konusunda daha dikkatli davrandılar. Riskli kronik rahatsızlıkları olan erkekler, pandemi sırasında diş hekimine başvurduklarında COVID-19 hakkında endişe hissetmemiş olabilirler.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Dental servis; COVID-19; kronik hastalık
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