title: Pattern and rate of progression of periodontal attachment loss in an urban population of South Brazil: a 5-years population-based prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this 5-years longitudinal study was to investigate the pattern and rate of periodontal attachment loss (PAL) progression in an urban population in South Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2001, a multistage probability sampling strategy was used to derive a representative sample of 1,465 dentate individuals from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Five years later, 697 dentate individuals (294M/403F, mean age: 37.9 ± 13.3) were available for follow-up. PAL was assessed by calibrated examiners using a full-mouth protocol. Estimates of proximal PAL progression and standard errors (SE) are reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six per cent (SE: 1.9) and 36% (SE: 1.8) of subjects showed PAL progression ≥3 mm affecting ≥2 and ≥4 teeth respectively. PAL progression ≥3 mm was mostly localized affecting 3.8 (SE: 0.2) teeth and 5.7 (SE: 0.3) sites. Annual PAL progression was, on average, 0.3 mm (SE: 0.01). Significant differences in PAL progression were observed according to age, gender, race and socioeconomic status. PAL progression increased with age reaching the highest progression rate in the 40-49 years cohort, and then decreased in older age groups. PAL progression was consistently higher among males and non-Whites than females and whites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A large proportion of this urban Brazilian sample was affected by PAL progression underscoring the need for health promotion initiatives aiming at preventing progression of destructive periodontal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. alexnhaas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alex Nogueira
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Eduardo José
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gaio
authors.forename: Rui Vicente
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Oppermann
authors.forename: Cassiano Kuchenbecker
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rösing
authors.forename: Jasim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Albandar
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Susin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult