Factors affecting the quality of life of patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw during treatment: A quality-of-life survey and causal analysis

This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and oral health-related QOL (OHRQOL) and the association between the downstaging of MRONJ and OHRQOL. The HRQOL and OHRQOL of 44 patients with MRONJ were assessed using the SF-36v2 and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), respectively. Treatment was performed in accordance with the AAOMS position paper (2014). The SF-36v2 and GOHAI scores at the beginning of the survey were used to evaluate the impact of MRONJ on QOL. Potential confounders affecting the association between downstaging and QOL improvement were selected using directed acyclic graphs. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate causal inferences. HRQOL scale scores declined below the national average. The three-component summary score (3CS), comprising the physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and role/social component summary (RCS), revealed that performance status and primary disease significantly affected the PCS and RCS (P = 0.005 and P < 0.001, respectively) and PCS and MCS (P = 0.024 and P = 0.003, respectively). The MRONJ stage did not influence the 3CS; however, OHRQOL declined in a stage-dependent manner (P = 0.005). Downstaging of MRONJ was independently associated with the improvement rate of the total GOHAI scores after adjusting for variables (P = 0.045). The HRQOL of patients with MRONJ declined; however, this may depend on the underlying disease status rather than the MRONJ stage. Improvement of the disease status can potentially predict an improvement in OHRQOL, regardless of the treatment modality.