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Multicenter Study
. 2016 Mar;50(1):9-15.
doi: 10.4314/gmj.v50i1.2.

Is there a relationship between periodontal conditions and number of medications among the elderly?

Zuhair S Natto  1 , Majdi Aladmawy  2 , Heba K Alshaeri  3 , Mohammed Alasqah  4 , Athena Papas  5
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Is there a relationship between periodontal conditions and number of medications among the elderly?

Zuhair S Natto et al. Ghana Med J. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate possible correlations of clinical attachment level and pocket depth with number of medications in elderly individuals.

Methods: Intra-oral examinations for 139 patients visiting Tufts dental clinic were done. Periodontal assessments were performed with a manual UNC-15 periodontal probe to measure probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) at 6 sites. Complete lists of patients' medications were obtained during the examinations. Statistical analysis involved Kruskal-Wallis, chi square and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: Age and health status attained statistical significance (p< 0.05), in contingency table analysis with number of medications. Number of medications had an effect on CAL: increased attachment loss was observed when 4 or more medications were being taken by the patient. Number of medications did not have any effect on periodontal PD. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, 6 or more medications had a higher risk of attachment loss (>3mm) when compared to the no-medication group, in crude OR (1.20, 95% CI:0.22-6.64), and age adjusted (OR=1.16, 95% CI:0.21-6.45), but not with the multivariate model (OR=0.71, 95% CI:0.11-4.39).

Conclusion: CAL seems to be more sensitive to the number of medications taken, when compared to PD. However, it is not possible to discriminate at exactly what number of drug combinations the breakdown in CAL will happen. We need to do further analysis, including more subjects, to understand the possible synergistic mechanisms for different drug and periodontal responses.

Keywords: clinical attachment level; elderly; medications; periodontal disease; probing depth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of number of medications on CAL and PD
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of number of medications on CAL and PD stratified by disease
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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