title: Association among menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and periodontal attachment loss in southern Brazilian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association among menopause, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and periodontal attachment loss (PAL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred twenty-eight women (40 to 69 years old) who participated in a previous oral survey in South Brazil were included. Women who reported not having their monthly menstrual cycles for >or=12 months were classified as postmenopausal. Postmenopausal women were categorized according to HRT. Women with >or=30% teeth with PAL >or=5 mm were classified as having periodontitis. The data were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model and adjusted for age, smoking, socioeconomic status, and dental care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of periodontitis was significantly greater among postmenopausal women not using HRT (HRT-) than among premenopausal women (64.4% versus 46.3%; P = 0.005). Similarly, the multivariable analysis demonstrated a significantly higher chance of having periodontitis in postmenopausal HRT- women than in premenopausal women (odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 4.0). In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the prevalence of periodontitis between postmenopausal women using HRT (HRT+) and premenopausal women (48.8% versus 46.3%; P = 0.77). After adjusting for cofactors, postmenopausal HRT+ women did not have a greater likelihood of having periodontitis than premenopausal women (OR, 1.2; 95% CI: 0.6 to 2.5). No significant differences in tooth loss were observed among the study groups after adjusting for confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postmenopausal HRT- women had a greater chance of having periodontitis than premenopausal women. In contrast, postmenopausal HRT+ women and premenopausal women had similar periodontal status. HRT may have a beneficial effect on periodontal health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alex N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Cassiano K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rösing
authors.forename: Rui V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Oppermann
authors.forename: Jasim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Albandar
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Susin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003729:Dental Care; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000209:etiology