title: Elevated leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in Korean adults: the 2012-2014 KNHANES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Both an elevated leukocyte count and periodontitis share well-recognized associations with cardiometabolic diseases. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify whether the leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in a nationally representative Korean adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 9391 participants (3659 males and 5732 females) enrolled in 2012-2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Leukocyte quartiles were categorized as follows: 3000 ≤ Q1 ≤ 4870, 4880 ≤ Q2 ≤5790, 5800 ≤ Q3 ≤ 6840, and 6850 ≤ Q4 ≤ 10000 cells/μl. Periodontitis was defined as scoring greater than or equal to 'code 3' in at least one site according to the WHO's Community Periodontal Index. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for periodontitis in each leukocyte count quartile were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of periodontitis was directly correlated with increasing leukocyte quartiles: 19%, 20.4%, 24.3%, and 30.3%. Compared with the lowest leukocyte quartile group, the OR (95% CI) for periodontitis of the highest leukocyte quartile was 1.558 (1.285-1.891) after controlling for confounding factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated leukocyte count was positively associated with the presence of periodontitis.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y-J
authors: YJ
authors: Kwon
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yong-in Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Yong-in, Korea.
authors: K-J
authors: KJ
authors: Jeon
authors: Severance check-up, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
authors: T-H
authors: TH
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y-J
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: community pocket index; inflammation; leukocyte count; periodontitis