Risk of severe periodontal disease in a Swedish adult population - A cross-sectional study

In this study, potential risk factors for severe periodontal disease were i dentified in a cross-sectional sample from the county of Jonkoping, Sweden. 547 adults 20-70 years of age were categorised clinically and radiographic ally by level of periodontal disease experience. These levels were used to divide the sample into groups - individuals without any reduction in period ontal bone level (60%) and those with severe periodontal bone loss (13%) - which were then used in univariate and multivariate logistic regression ana lyses as dependent variable. Demographic, socio-economic, general health, s moking habits, clinical, and dental care variables were used in the differe nt regression analyses. In the univariate model, age (20-70 years) was foun d to be correlated with more severe periodontal disease experience (odds ra tio: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.10-1.17). The association with periodontal disease was more pronounced for the older age groups (50, 60, and 70 years). A negativ e financial situation was also related to severe periodontal bone loss when regressed univariately (odds ratio 2.20 [95%. 1.04-4.68]). Moderate-heavy smoking (greater than or equal to 10 cigarettes/day) appeared to be associa ted with severe periodontal destruction with an odds ratio of 9.78 (95% CI: 3.62-36.42). Of the clinical variables in the univariate model, higher mea n levels of supragingival dental plaque and the presence of subgingival cal culus were related to more severe periodontal disease with odds ratios of 1 .02 (95%. 1.01-1.03) and 2.96 (95%. 1.50-5.88), respectively. When the same variables were regressed multivariately, age (continuous) (odds ratio 1.17 [95% CI: 1.12-1.22]), moderate-heavy smoking (odds ratio 11.84 [95% CI: 4. 19-33.50]), and higher mean levels of plaque (odds ratio 1.02 [95% CI: 1.00 -1.03]) remained significant. Light smoking (1-9 cigarettes/day) was not si gnificantly associated with severe periodontal disease in the 2 regression models. The present study demonstrated that smoking, greater age, and highe r mean levels of plaque are potential risk factors for severe periodontal d isease in this specific population.