title: A possible link between ankylosing spondylitis and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the link between AS and periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, Embase, AMED, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched to identify eligible studies that were selected and reviewed independently by at least two authors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six case-control studies were included in the review. Study size ranged from 90 to 40 926 participants. The prevalence of periodontitis ranged from 38% to 88% in AS patients and from 26% to 71% in controls. As there was low-level heterogeneity (I(2) = 13%), using fixed effects analysis the overall pooled estimate of the odds ratios for periodontitis was 1.85 (95% CI 1.72, 1.98). There was no evidence of publication bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results led to the need for a further large study with sufficient statistical power to detect the desired effect size, taking into account potential confounding factors and using validated measures of AS and periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK. Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Tiara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ratz
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK. Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reeks
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Research Collaboration (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Department of Public Health, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany, Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy and University of Aberdeen Dental School and Hospital, Aberdeen, UK. tatiana.macfarlane@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tatiana V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: ankylosing spondylitis; dental; epidemiology; periodontitis; prevalence