• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.197-204
• /
• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between health-related quality of life and oral health behavior and oral health status, and to provide the basic data for national oral health policy. Methods: The primary data of the 5th National Health Examination and Nutritional Survey(NHANES) in 2012 were used in this study. The subjects were 2,243 middle-aged people(40-59 years old), 827 persons were excluded for missing value or having diseases affecting quality of life(depression, stroke, cardiac infarction, angina, liver cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, other cancers, arthritis), and 1,416 data were finally analyzed. Results: In health-related quality of life by subjects' characteristics, there was significant difference in gender, age, education, family income, and employment status(p<0.01) except for current smoking. Oral health behavior didn't have significant relation to health-related quality of life, but better oral health status showed better health-related quality of life(p<0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, this study suggested that there was close relationship between the oral health status and health-related quality of life in moddle aged people. Therefore, national oral health policy is needed for the oral health promotion with commitment of oral prophylaxis and care programs to the individual and community.