Quality of Life in Healthy Adults Assessed using Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) is a condition specific questionnaire developed to assess the quality of life (QoL) of orthodontic-surgical patients. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze variability in the OQLQ scores among healthy adults serving as controls in orthognathic studies The meta-analysis aimed to determine the mean estimated values for the OQLQ sum- and subcategory scores in healthy individuals that could provide a reference for studies comparing patients’ OQLQ scores to those of healthy individuals. Articles written in English and published between May 2023 – October 2024 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and LILACS. The inclusion criteria were formed according to the Patient, Information, Comparison and Outcome (PICO) model. Selection of the articles followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk of Bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s Critical Appraisal tool. Healthy individuals used as controls in studies comparing patients and controls were included. Pooled estimates of scores were calculated using a random-effects model. The systematic review included 14 articles with 797 healthy adults. Two studies were excluded from the meta-analysis. Although the studies originated from a large geographic area, there appeared to be almost no heterogeneity between the control groups. The mean estimate (ME) of the OQLQ sum score for healthy individuals was 17.42 (SD 4.04; 95% CI (9.50,25.34)). This meta-analysis provides reference values for healthy adults, representing a novel contribution to the research of orthognathic quality of life.