Risk determinants of periodontal disease--an analysis of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP 0).
BACKGROUND
In this study, risk determinants were determined for periodontal disease in the representative population sample (n=3146) of the Study of Health in Pomerania.


METHODS
After examining the net random sample (response 69%) and exclusion of edentulous cases and those with missing values, 2595 subjects remained. Using a multivariate, fully adjusted logistic regression, different definitions of "periodontally diseased/healthy" were examined as the dependent variable (extent of attachment loss (AL> or =4 mm, combined AL and tooth loss). The independent variables used were sociodemographic factors (age, gender, income, education), medical factors (systemic diseases, drugs), behavioral factors (regular dental checkup, smoking), and oral factors (presence of supragingival calculus and plaque).


RESULTS
The following risk determinants were found for AL: male gender, presence of supragingival plaque and calculus, smoking, low educational level. For the combination of AL and tooth loss, risk determinants were female gender, supragingival plaque, smoking, and low educational level. Consumption of antiallergic medications and regular dental checkups proved to be protective. Smoking was the most influential risk determinant. These parameters explained approximately 43-55% of the variation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results concur with those of the literature. In order to explain disease status further, host-response and microbiological factors must also be examined.
Kocher
T
T
Center for Dentistry and Oral Medicine, Greifswald, Germany. kocher@uni-greifswald.de
Schwahn
C
C
Gesch
D
D
Bernhardt
O
O
John
U
U
Meisel
P
P
Baelum
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology