The association between undiagnosed glycaemic abnormalities and cardiometabolic risk factors with periodontitis: results from 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey

Abstract

Aim: The aim was to investigate the association between undiagnosed glycaemic abnormalities and cardiometabolic risk factors with periodontitis.

Methods: Using Cycle 1 (2007-2009) of Canadian Health Measures Survey, survey-sampling weights were applied to a restricted sample of fasting, non-pregnant adults between 19 and 79 years of age without diagnosed or treated type 2 diabetes. We estimated the prevalence of periodontitis and various cardiometabolic risk factors according to the clinical diagnostic definition for metabolic syndrome (MetS), recognized by the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence odds ratios (PORs) examining the association between cardiometabolic risk factors and periodontitis among dentate adults with available attachment loss measures.

Results: The prevalence of combined moderate-to-severe periodontitis was 17.93% (95% CI 15.85, 20.02). Hyperglycaemia (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 5.6 mmol/l) was significantly associated with periodontitis, POR = 1.60 (95% (CI) 1.04, 2.45), but was no longer significant after controlling for socioeconomic status variables. Central adiposity, dyslipidaemia and hypertension were not associated with periodontitis.

Conclusion: Glucose disruption measured by FPG was associated with periodontitis; however, no association was observed with other cardiometabolic risk factors or MetS in a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of Canadian adults.

Keywords: dental health survey(s); diabetes; epidemiology; metabolic syndrome; periodontitis.