There is a clear link between the presence of many oral health problems and a higher likelihood of developing Multimorbidity or comorbidity. Periodontal disease is prevalent among people with Multimorbidity, including diabetes, hypertension, anemia, and many related health problems. The coexistence of many chronic conditions and oral illnesses is a significant difficulty in the adult population living in slums, as it negatively impacts their quality of life and is linked to substantial healthcare expenses. It is necessary for the dentistry profession to address this issue and contemplate the implementation of initial screening at the primary healthcare level.
Findings
Of the 16 designated slum locations, 870 individuals were considered for oral health screening. Gingivitis was highly prevalent, 29% among slum dwellers with multimorbidity of diabetes, hepatitis, and hypertentsion. Dandasa was widely used as a tooth-cleansing agent in 35% of the study population. By contrast, 45.4% of people showed unsatisfactory oral hygiene conditions. Pathan ethnicity showed the highest prevalence (i.e., 29.8% of dental problems with disease multimorbidity in 26.8% of Baldia Town residents of Karachi). Of the 870 individuals, the highest frequency of dental problems was found in the age group of 18e38 years (28e42.9%) and among female participants (53.8%).
Evaluation of oral health among people with multimorbidity in the marginalized population of Karachi, Pakistan: A multicenter cross-sectional study
