Risk factors and prevalence of periodontitis in community-dwelling elders in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether an association existed between chronic systemic diseases/conditions, risk factors common in old age, and the extent and severity of chronic periodontal disease.


METHODS
Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics were examined by contrasting rural, urban-marginal, and urban social environments in Central Mexico. Data were analysed with Analysis of Variance, chi2 tests, and multivariable logistic regression.


RESULTS
A total of 473 adults 60 years old and over were interviewed; 315 were also examined and underwent laboratory assays (participation rate, 66%); women, 62%; mean age 73+/-8 years; 23% edentulous. The distribution of periodontitis by sociodemographic variables showed differences across locales (73% low-urban, 57% middle-urban, 29% rural). The regression model indicated that periodontitis was more frequently associated with low-urban locale, higher systolic blood pressure, higher body mass index, and worse calculus readings, with an interaction whereby being obese and having a high calculus index was associated with a high probability of having periodontitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall periodontal conditions were fair. While we identified oral, systemic, and social variables that modulated the experience of periodontitis, it would appear that urban, low social class elders appeared to have worse periodontal conditions.
Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, México. aborges@servidor.unam.mx
S Aída
SA
Borges-Yáñez
María Esther
ME
Irigoyen-Camacho
Gerardo
G
Maupomé
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data