Association between obesity and periodontal disease in young adults: a population-based birth cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between obesity and periodontal disease and the mediating effect of oral hygiene, systemic inflammation and carbohydrate intake.


METHODS
Subjects born in 1982 in Pelotas, Brazil (n = 5,914), have been followed for several times. Oral health was assessed in a representative sample of 720 individuals at 24 years. Obesity, waist circumference and number of episodes with obesity between 15 and 23 years of age were the main exposures. Mediating effect of oral hygiene, C-reactive protein level and carbohydrate consumption was also assessed.


RESULTS
Obese individuals were more likely to have ≥ 2 teeth with gingival bleeding. However, after adjusting for confounders, the association was not statistically significant [OR (obese × 2 or more teeth) 1.72 (95% CI: 0.95, 3.11)] and adjustment for potential mediators decreased the OR (OR = 1.38). The risk of presenting calculus in obese subjects was 10% higher [PR 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.18)]. The number of episodes of obesity between 15 and 23 years was associated with dental calculus. Periodontal pockets were not associated with obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
Systemic inflammation and oral hygiene may be mediating the association between obesity and gingivitis. Obesity was not associated with periodontal pockets in young adults in this cohort.
Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Pelotas Federal University, Pelotas, Brazil. eduardo.dickie@gmail.com
Eduardo Dickie
ED
de Castilhos
Bernardo Lessa
BL
Horta
Denise Petrucci
DP
Gigante
Flávio Fernando
FF
Demarco
Karen Glazer
KG
Peres
Marco Aurélio
MA
Peres
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000150:complications; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D002097:C-Reactive Protein