The association between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease in a population-based cross-sectional case-control study
Stefan Renvert, Johan Berglund, G. Rutger Persson, Maria K. Söderlin
Abstract
Abstract Background The association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis remains unclear. Methods We studied oral health and periodontitis in a population-based case-control study of individuals with ≥10 remaining teeth ≥61 years of age and either with, or without a diagnosis of RA. 126 dentate individuals with RA were recruited together with age-matched control individuals without RA. The control individuals were recruited from the general population from the same city ( n = 249). A dental examination including a panoramic radiograph was performed on all participants. All individuals with RA were examined and medical records were reviewed by a rheumatologist. In the control group, none of the participants presented with symptoms of RA and their medical records were also negative. Results The RA group included more women (66.7% vs. 55.8%) ( p < 0.01). Individuals in the RA group had a higher body mass index (BMI) ( p < 0.001). A diagnosis of periodontitis was more common in the RA group (61.1%) than in the control group (33.7%) ( p = 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis identified that a BMI > 25 (OR 6.2, 95% CI 3.6, 10.5, p = 0.000), periodontitis (OR 2.5 95% CI 1.5, 4.2 p = 0.000), and female gender (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.0, p = 0.003) were associated with RA. Conclusion RA was associated a diagnosis of periodontitis.