Global Prevalence and Patterns of Oral Health Disorders in Elite and Paralympic Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objective: – Neglect of oral health issues among athletes poses health risk for athletes and affects their performance. Despite that, there is a significant research gap concerning the oral health of athletes to better comprehend the prevalence and type of oral health disorders in this population. The goal of this study is to gather evidence to determine the prevalence and types of oral diseases among athletes and analyze the differences in oral health issues between elite and paralympic athletes. Methods: – A systematic search approach was applied to 3 web-based scientific databases. Studies involving athletes, such as elite/Olympic or paralympic athletes, and reporting oral health were accepted as eligible for inclusion. A pooled prevalence using random effect model was calculated to estimate the burden of the oral health problems reported in the studies. Heterogeneity and publication bias was assessed using Q statistic distribution, Egger regression, and funnel plot, respectively. Subgroup analysis was performed where applicable. Results: – Out of 1248 results yielded on database search, 34 studies met the final inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of dental caries, periodontitis, dental trauma, and dental erosion was found to be 44%, 47%, 15%, and 30%, respectively. Conclusions: – Elite athletes and paralympic athletes have a high prevalence of oral health problems despite being physically fit. Therefore, it is necessary to assess oral health as a critical component of routine health assessment of athletes.