title: Risk factors of oral candidosis: a twofold approach of study by fuzzy logic and traditional statistic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess a panel of risk factors associated to oral candidosis (OC) onset and its chronic maintenance by means of fuzzy logic (FL) approach and statistical traditional methodology (STM); to investigate their casual relationship within a multifactorial framework.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hospital-based clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-nine patients with OC infection microbiologically diagnosed and 98 healthy subjects were consecutively recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anamnestic and clinical evaluations for OC, microbiological assessment (i.e. culture, CFU/mL counting and identification) were performed. The commonest predisposing factors for OC onset and its chronic status were analysed by FL and STM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By means of a twofold analysis (FL and STM) significant associations between OC onset and its chronic maintenance were found with respect to denture wearing and hyposalivation/xerostomia, as local risk factors, and to age and female gender, as socio-demographical variables. Tobacco smoking was found not to be a risk factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The twofold (FL and STM) statistical approach for the identification of OC risk factors has been found useful and accurate in individuating a more selected target population for OC onset and chronic maintenance. The target patient appears to be an elderly person with multiple disease inducing, directly or by medications, hyposalivation/xerostomia. This data could provide to general and dental practitioners a decision-making model finalised to their preventative strategies for the geriatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. camoisi@odonto.unipa.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Panzarella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Matranga
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calvino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003778:Dentures / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D017143:Fuzzy Logic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000150:complications