title: Periodontitis and perceived risk for periodontitis in elders with evidence of depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and periodontitis are common conditions in older adults. There is some evidence that these two conditions may be related.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study a population of dentate elders and assess the prevalence of depression, self-assessment of risk for periodontitis and tooth loss, in relation to periodontal disease status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from 701 older subjects (mean age 67.2 years (SD+/-4.6), of whom 59.5% were women. Self-reports of a diagnosis of depression, scores of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and self-assessment of risk for future tooth loss and periodontitis were compared with a diagnosis of periodontitis based on probing depth, and bone loss assessed from panoramic radiographs. Other systemic diseases and smoking habits were also determined and studied in relation to depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A history of depression was reported by 20% of the subjects. GDS scores >/=8 were reported by 9.8% of the elders. Periodontitis was identified in 48.5% of the subjects. Depression was associated with heart attack (p<0.05), stroke (p<0.01), high blood pressure (p<0.02), all combined cardiovascular diseases (p<0.001), chronic pain (p<0.01), osteoarthritis (p<0.001), and osteoporosis (p< 0.001) but not with periodontitis (p=0.73). Subjects with depression had a higher self-reported risk score for future tooth loss (p<0.02). No group difference emerged for self-perceived risk for periodontitis. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a past history of tooth loss (p<0.001), self-perceived risk for periodontitis (p<0.02), the number of years with a smoking habit (p<0.02), and male gender (p<0.02) were associated with a diagnosis of periodontitis but neither measure of depression could be included in an explanatory model for periodontitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evidence of depression (self-report or by GDS) is not associated with risk for periodontitis in older subjects but is associated with tooth loss and chronic conditions associated with pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. rutger.persson@zmk.unibe.ch
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: MacEntee
authors.forename: C C I I
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hollender
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kiyak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016321:Dental Care for Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012650:Self Disclosure; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications