Long-term use of medications and destructive periodontal disease.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of typical medication use among patients with chronic periodontitis or destructive periodontal disease is limited. The aim of this study was to associate periodontitis severity with the use of different classes of medications.


METHODS
Patients (N=12,631) who had medical, dental, and pharmaceutical coverage with a health maintenance organization and whose severity of destructive periodontal disease was diagnosed by a dentist or specialist were included in the study. The rate of drug use over 7 years was related to the severity of destructive periodontal disease by means of Poisson regression models.


RESULTS
Individuals with moderate to advanced periodontitis had significantly lower fill rates for the respiratory agents (antihistamines: -23%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -10% to -34%; decongestants: -24%, 95% CI: -13% to -34%; and cough/cold medications: -12%, 95% CI: -3% to -21%) and anti-infective agents (antibiotics: -12%, 95% confidence interval: -6% to -18%; urinary anti-infectives: -36%, 95% CI: -6% to -56%; and topical antibiotics: -18%, 95% CI: -5% to -29%).


CONCLUSIONS
More severe periodontitis was a marker for reduced medication use for allergies and infections. The associations between destructive periodontal disease, infections, allergies, and the hygiene hypothesis need further exploration.
Hujoel
Philippe P
PP
Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7475, USA. hujoel@u.washington.edu
Cunha-Cruz
Joana
J
Maupome
Gerardo
G
Saver
Barry
B
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000145:classification; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000996:Antitussive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003139:Common Cold / Q000188:drug therapy; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000145:classification; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017823:Furcation Defects / Q000145:classification; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D012907:Smoking
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; D000996:Antitussive Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D014663:Nasal Decongestants