Periodontal disease and weight loss in older adults.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between periodontal disease and weight loss in an elderly cohort.


METHODS
A longitudinal design was used with participants from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) cohort study to determine the association between periodontal disease status and weight loss of at least 5% of baseline body weight over a period of 2 years.


METHODS
Participants were examined in research clinics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Memphis, Tennessee.


METHODS
A randomly selected subset of 1,053 individuals from the Health ABC examination, aged 65 and older, ambulatory and community-dwelling at baseline.


METHODS
Periodontal disease was measured as mean pocket depth and attachment loss, extent (percentage) of pockets with at least 6 mm probing depth, extent of bleeding on probing, and tissue inflammation.


RESULTS
In logistic regression models adjusting for variables that may explain weight loss, extent of periodontal pockets with at least 6 mm probing depth showed a significant association with weight loss (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.32-1.77).


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontal disease may be causally related to weight loss in the elderly and thus may increase risk of morbidity and mortality.
Weyant
Robert J
RJ
Department of Dental Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia 15261, USA. rjw1@pitt.edu
Newman
Anne B
AB
Kritchevsky
Stephen B
SB
Bretz
Walter A
WA
Corby
Patricia M
PM
Ren
Dianxu
D
Weissfeld
Lisa
L
Rubin
Susan M
SM
Harris
Tamara
T
D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009909:Oral Health; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss