Comparison between two methods for periodontal risk assessment.
OBJECTIVE
Risk assessment is increasingly important in periodontology. The aim of this article was to propose a new objective method (UniFe) in order to simplify the risk assessment procedures. UniFe was compared with a computer-based risk assessment tool (PAT(R)).


METHODS
Risk scores for both UniFe and PAT(R) were calculated for 107 patients, randomly selected among patients seeking care at a specialist periodontal clinic. For UniFe risk calculation, the ''parameter scores'' assigned to smoking status, diabetic status, number of sites with probing depth 5 mm, bleeding on probing score (BoP) and bone loss/age, were added and the sum was referred to a ''risk score'', ranging from 1 (low risk) to 5 (high risk). PAT(R) generated a risk score on a scale from 1 (lowest risk) to 5 (highest risk).


RESULTS
The mean UniFe and PAT(R) risk scores were 4.5+/-0.9 and 4.6+/-0.7, respectively. Cohen k-statistics amounted to 0.7, suggesting a good agreement between methods. Difference in risk score between methods was significantly explained by the parameter scores of BoP and bone loss/age (adjusted R2=0.378).


CONCLUSIONS
The comparison between UniFe and PAT(R) demonstrated a good level of agreement between methods in a randomly selected population referred to a periodontal clinic.
Trombelli
L
L
Research Centre for the Study of Periodontal Diseases, University of Ferrara, Ferarra, Italy. leonardo.trombelli@unife.it
Farina
R
R
Ferrari
S
S
Pasetti
P
P
Calura
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D003792:Dental Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005888:Gingival Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology