title: Tooth loss, periodontitis, and statins in a population-based follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins, frequently prescribed in lipid-lowering therapies, seem to have additional beneficial effects on periodontitis and tooth loss. If this is true, then chronic treatment with statins should also result in diminished tooth loss as a long-term response.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year population-based follow-up study of tooth loss was performed comparing participants treated with statins (n = 134) with those not on the drugs (Study of Health in Pomerania). Negative binomial regression models were used to analyze the count variable of the outcome, including risk factors for tooth loss and measures of cholesterol metabolism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When adjusted for age and sex, statins were associated with reduced tooth loss during the follow-up period (incidence risk ratio [IRR] = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50 to 0.99, P = 0.04). When additionally adjusted for risk factors of periodontal breakdown, IRR was 0.72 (95% CI = 0.52 to 1.01). There was significant interaction with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) at baseline. After stratification by LDL-c, statins were associated with reduced tooth loss, resulting in IRR = 0.89 (95% CI = 0.44 to 1.83) and 0.64 (95% CI = 0.43 to 0.95), P = 0.03, at LDL-c concentrations ≤100 mg/dL and >100 mg/dL (2.58 mmol/L), respectively. The data also showed reduced tooth loss associated with the 5-year reduction in LDL-c levels on a mmol/L basis and independently of statins (IRR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80 to 0.96, P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with systemically administered statins may have the beneficial effect of protecting against tooth loss.
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinics, Unit of Periodontology, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: Heyo K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kroemer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nauck
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holtfreter
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kocher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Anticholesteremic agents; C-reactive protein; cholesterol, LDL; hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; periodontitis; tooth loss