Oral health status of low-income, middle-aged to elderly Hong Kong Chinese with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To study oral health conditions, diabetic medical complications and their association in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of 364 type 2 DM patients (63.6 +/- 10.1 years, 54% female) and 161 controls (64.1 +/- 10.6 years, 53% female) with or without essential hypertension, predominantly low-income, attending a hospital were recruited. Periodontal disease (Community Periodontal Index [CPI]) and dental status (decayed, missing and filled teeth [DMFT]) were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose and, for DM patients, HbA1C and DM complications were recorded on enrolment and follow up, respectively.


RESULTS
Many DM subjects had fair diabetic control. Both groups (control/DM) had poor oral health: DMFT = 14.5/16.8, CPI 4 = 36%/50%, (P < 0.02) while DM subjects had less DT(adjusted) = 2.1/1.4 (P < 0.01). Of the follow-up DM individuals, 294 (81%) had medical complication(s). Regression analyses showed association between advanced periodontal attachment loss (ALoss) and age, male gender, smoking and DM; MT and DMFT were associated with age, female gender, smoking, DM and hypertension. ALoss and DMFT were not associated with DM complications.


CONCLUSIONS
The oral health of the surveyed Chinese subjects was poor. Type 2 DM subjects were affected more by ALoss and MT but less DT. Subjects with hypertension had higher odds for MT.
Leung
W Keung
WK
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Room 3B39, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong SAR, PR China. ewkleung@hkucc.hku.hk
Siu
Shing-Chung
SC
Chu
Frederick C S
FC
Wong
Ka Wai
KW
Jin
Lijian
L
Sham
Arthur S K
AS
Tsang
C S Peter
CS
Samaranayake
Lakshman P
LP
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications; D011203:Poverty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin