title: Diagnostic accuracy of a combination of salivary hemoglobin levels, self-report questionnaires, and age in periodontitis screening.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the predictive performance of a combination of self-report questionnaires, salivary hemoglobin levels, and age as a non-invasive screening method for periodontitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The periodontitis status of 202 adults was examined using salivary hemoglobin levels, responses to 10 questions on a self-report questionnaire, and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). The ability of those two variables and the combination thereof with age to predict the presence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 was assessed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were present among 79.7% and 46.5% of the sample, respectively. The area under the ROC curves (AUROCs) of salivary hemoglobin levels for predicting prevalence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were 0.63 and 0.67, respectively (with sensitivity values of 71% and 60% and specificity values of 56% and 72%, respectively). Two distinct sets of five questions were associated with CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, with AUROCs of 0.73 and 0.71, sensitivity values of 76% and 66%, and specificity values of 63% and 69%. The combined model incorporating both variables and age showed the best predictive performance, with AUROCs of 0.78 and 0.76, sensitivity values of 71% and 65%, and specificity values of 68% and 77% for CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of salivary hemoglobin levels and self-report questionnaires was shown to be a valuable screening method for detecting periodontitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry & Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: You-Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0272-8815
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry & Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.; BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Ra
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3775-280X
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Hoi-In
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1978-6926
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Research Institute for Periodontal Regeneration, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea .
authors.forename: Ui-Won
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6371-4172
authors.initials: UW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, Gachon University College of Health Science, Incheon, Korea .
authors.forename: Hee Eun
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8632-9768
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry & Public Oral Health, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.; BK21 PLUS Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.; Oral Science Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Baek-Il
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8234-2327
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Community periodontal index; Hemoglobins; Periodontal diseases; Saliva; Self report