A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Oral Microbiome and Dental Health in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible associations between primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), dental health, and the oral microbiome.


METHODS
Case-control study was conducted at SUNY Downstate. Adult subjects (40 to 87 y) were recruited as POAG cases (n=119) and controls without glaucoma (n=78) based on visual field and optic nerve criteria. Overall 74.6% were African Americans (AA). Information on medical history and oral health was collected and ophthalmologic examinations were performed. Mouthwash specimens (28 AA cases and 17 controls) were analyzed for bacterial DNA amounts. Analyses were limited to AAs as the predominant racial group. Outcome measures included number of natural teeth, self-reported periodontal health parameters, and amounts and prevalence of oral bacterial species. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associated factors and potential interactions.


RESULTS
Cases and controls had similar age (mean: 62.2 and 60.9 y, respectively, P>0.48), and frequency of hypertension, diabetes, but cases had a higher proportion of men (P<0.04). On average (±SD), cases had fewer natural teeth than controls [18.0 (±11.1) vs. 20.7 (±9.4)]. Having more natural teeth was inversely associated with POAG, in multivariable analyses, at older ages [eg, odds ratio (95% confidence interval) at age 55: 1.0 (0.95-1.06), P=0.98 vs. at age 85: 0.87 (0.79-0.96), P=0.007]. Amounts of Streptococci were higher in cases than controls (P<0.03) in samples from the subset of subjects analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of teeth (an oral health indicator) and alterations in the amounts of oral bacteria may be associated with glaucoma pathology. Further investigation of the association between dental health and glaucoma is warranted.
Departments of *Ophthalmology ‡Cell Biology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY †Department of Epidemiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
Daniel
D
Polla
Konstantin
K
Astafurov
Eman
E
Hawy
Leslie
L
Hyman
Wei
W
Hou
John
J
Danias
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003817:Dentition; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology