title: Association of Dental Care with Adherence to HEDIS Measures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The dental setting represents an unrealized opportunity to increase adherence to preventive services and improve health outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare adherence to a subset of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures among a population that received dental care with a population that did not receive dental care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a retrospective cohort design, we identified 5216 adults who received regular dental care and 5216 persons who did not. The groups were matched on propensity scores, were followed for 3 years, and retained medical and dental benefits. Receipt of dental care was defined as 1 or more dental visits in each 12-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcome measures were assessed in a subpopulation that qualified for 1 of 5 HEDIS denominator groups (dental = 4184 patients; nondental = 3871 patients). They included 3 preventive measures (cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer screening), 4 chronic disease management services (hemoglobin A1c and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol testing, and nephropathy and retinopathy screening among the diabetes mellitus [DM] population), and 4 health outcome measures (poor glycemic control, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol control, blood pressure control in the DM population, and blood pressure control in the hypertensive population).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental care was associated with higher adherence to all three cancer screening measures, one of four disease management services (higher retinopathy screening), and three of four health outcomes (better glycemic control in the DM population and better blood pressure control in the DM and hypertensive populations).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental care was associated with improved adherence to 7 of 11 HEDIS measures.
authors.affiliation: Senior Program Evaluation Consultant and Affiliate Investigator at The Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. david.m.mosen@kpchr.org.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mosen
authors.affiliation: Associate Director for Evidence-Based Care and Oral Health Research for Permanente Dental Associates in Portland, OR. dan.j.pihlstrom@kp.org.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pihlstrom
authors.affiliation: CEO and Dental Director for Permanente Dental Associates in Portland, OR. john.j.snyder@kp.org.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Biostatistician and Investigator for The Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. ning.smith@kpchr.org.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Research Analyst for The Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. elizabeth.shuster@kpchr.org.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shuster
authors.affiliation: Statistical Research Analyst for The Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. kristal.rust@kpchr.org.
authors.forename: Kristal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rust
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057216:Propensity Score; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult