Background: Obstructive sleep apnea and oral health are highly correlated with quality of life. The purpose of this study is to determine the mediating effect of self-cognitive oral health status on the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk factors on quality of life in middle-aged Korean women using the 2019 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. Methods: A hierarchical regression analysis was performed on the mediating effect of self-cognitive oral health status on the effects of OSA risk factors on health-related quality of life (Korean health-related quality of life instrument with 8 items; HINT-8). Results: Self-cognitive oral health status as a parameter had a significant effect on quality of life (β = 0.713, p < 0.001). Compared to the effect of the OSA risk factor of the second stage on the quality of life (β = −1.329, p < 0.001), the input of the third stage of self-cognitive oral health was partially mediated (β = −1.280, p <0.001). Conclusions: Therefore, if middle-aged women have OSA risk factors, they should try to improve their quality of life by managing oral health as well as OSA treatment.
Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea; oral health; quality of life; women.