Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relationship between COVID-19-related depressive symptoms and oral health among Korean adolescents. Data from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey were used and analyzed by the chi-squared test, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0. The final study population comprised 54,835 individuals. The rates of toothache, gingival bleeding, tooth fracture, and tooth sensitivity were 21.2, 19.1, 8.7, and 30.6%, respectively. The rates of equal, increased, and decreased COVID-19-related depressive symptoms were 53.4, 36.9, and 9.7%, respectively. The rates of toothache, gingival bleeding, and tooth sensitivity were significantly higher (49.0, 48.3, and 46.3%, respectively) in the increased depressive symptom group than that in the decreased depressive symptom group (7.7, 8.1, and 7.7%, respectively). After adjusting for gender, school grade, school record, household economic status, tooth brushing frequency, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption, the risks of toothache, gingival bleeding, and tooth sensitivity in the increased depressive symptom group were symptom group were 1.64 (95% CI: 1.51-1.78), 1.55 (95% CI: 1.43-1.68), and 1.77 (95% CI: 1.65-1.89), respectively. There was a significant increase in oral symptoms in the group with increased depressive symptoms.
Figures & Tables
Table 1. Distribution of oral health according to the general characteristics Unit: N(%)
