title: Prevalence of chronic periodontitis in an obese population: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a global public health issue. Studies have suggested CP could be linked to obesity due to their similar pathophysiological pathway. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of CP and to assess the predictors for CP among the obese Malaysian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study on obese participants. Obesity is defined as an individual who has Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 27.5 kg/m(2). A convenience sampling method was used. A total of 165 paricipants were recruited. This study involved answering questionnaires, obtaining biometric and clinical measurements of Visible plaque index (VPI), Gingival bleeding index (GBI), Probing pocket depth (PPD) and Clinical attachment loss (CAL). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software (SPSS Inc., version 20, US).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 165 participants; 67 (40.6%) males and 98 (59.4%) females participated in the study. Mean age of the participants was 43.9 (± 8.9). The prevalence of CP among the obese population was found to be 73.9%. Out of this, 43 and 55% were categorised as moderate and severe CP respectively. Around 64% of participants had sites with CAL ≥ 4 mm and participants with sites with PPD ≥ 4 mm were reported to be 25%. Around 83% of the participants had sites with GBI ≥ 30 and 92% of participants had sites with VPI ≥ 20%. GBI and VPI were found to have significantly higher odds for CP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of CP was high among obese Malaysians. GBI and VPI were potential predictors for CP in this obese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. drsrk@siswa.um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Shahrukh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Oral Health & Clinical Prevention, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. roslans@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Roslan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saub
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. rathna@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Rathna Devi
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vaithilingam
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. syarida.safii@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Syarida Hasnur
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Safii
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. shireene@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Shireene Rathna
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Vethakkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. noradinar@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Nor Adinar
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Baharuddin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data