Subjective oral health status in an adult Korean population with asthma or allergic rhinitis

Unhealthy habits and comorbidities associated with uncontrolled asthma in young people

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower airways that affects more than 260 million people worldwide and has been related to more than 460,000 deaths a year. It is estimated that in 60% of asthma cases, the symptoms are not adequately controlled. The objective of this study was to determine the association between some comorbidities, habits, and health risk behaviors with uncontrolled asthma in a sample of young people with asthma.

METHODS

Through a cross-sectional study, data from 1,078 young people aged 17 to 19 years were analyzed. Information was collected through physical examination, direct questioning, and the application of a self-administered questionnaire.

RESULTS

In the group of young people with asthma, the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma was 20.6%, of which 53.8% were women, 76.9% suffered from rhinitis, 46.2% were overweight and 23.1% were obese. In the group of young with uncontrolled asthma, gingivitis was detected in 53.8% and alcohol consumption in 84.6%. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between allergic rhinitis, gingivitis, carbohydrate intake, alcohol consumption, overweight, and obesity with uncontrolled asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents and members of the health team need to identify on time the risk factors associated with uncontrolled asthma in young people with asthma to limit its development and the negative effects it generates. The results of this study should be used to strengthen programs that promote the comprehensive health of adolescents.

The Link between Periodontal Disease and Asthma: How Do These Two Diseases Affect Each Other?

A growing body of evidence suggests that the effects of poor oral hygiene extend beyond the oral cavity and are associated with a variety of systemic diseases, including asthma. Asthma, which results in symptoms of cough, wheezing, and dyspnoea, and is characterized by airflow limitation with variability and (partial or complete) reversibility, is amongst the most prevalent respiratory diseases with approximately 262 million patients worldwide, and its prevalence and disease burden is on the increase. While asthma can occur at a young age, it can also develop later in life and affects a variety of age groups. Both of these diseases have a chronic course, and various researchers have suggested a link between the two. In this article, we aim to provide a literature review focusing on the association between the two diseases. The results demonstrate that medications (primarily, inhaler medicine), hypoxia induced by asthma, and the breathing behaviour of patients potentially trigger periodontal disease. In contrast, oral periodontopathogenic microorganisms and the inflammatory mediators produced by them may be involved in the onset and/or exacerbation of asthma. Common contributing factors, such as smoking, gastro-oesophageal reflux, and type-2 inflammation, should also be considered when evaluating the relationship between the two diseases.

Prevalence of Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, and Atopic Dermatitis and Their Association With Oral Health in Saudi Arabia

Background  The word "atopy" is frequently used to describe immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated diseases. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma is increasing and disconcerting in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to investigate the association between allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and oral health among adults in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study of 726 adults using an electronic questionnaire was adopted. The study was carried out from January to December 2022. The questionnaire included demographic data, patients' diseases in response to inclusion and exclusion criteria, oral health status and symptoms, and dental health-related behaviors. Results Most participants were aged from 18 to <40 years (79.1%). More than half of the participants were females (53.6%); 39.7% of participants had poor oral health. Poor health was significantly higher among obese subjects as well as those with lower levels of physical activity, higher perceived levels of stress, those who received a sealant, and those who brushed their teeth for ≤ one time per day. The results showed that the individual symptoms of oral health did not associate significantly with being diagnosed with allergic rhinitis or asthma in the past 12 months. However, atopic dermatitis was independently associated with a chipped or broken tooth (OR = 1.52) and pain in the tongue or inside the cheeks (OR = 3.57). Conclusion Poor oral health was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis in Saudi adults. Some systemic diseases are considered chronic diseases, and they are multifactorial; thus, we cannot claim that periodontal pathogens are the definite cause of systemic infections. More studies are necessary to find a definitive association.

Allergic rhinitis and dental caries: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting millions of people globally. Some studies revealed the presence of bidirectional relationship between allergic rhinitis (AR) and oral diseases, with each disease having a potential impact on the other. In this study we aimed to systematically review the literature and analyze the available evidence regarding whether AR contributes to the development of dental caries.

METHODS

Three authors, members of the YO-IFOS rhinology study group, independently analyzed the data sources (Pubmed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SciELO) for papers assessing the relationship between rhinitis and caries, in adult and pediatric patients.

RESULTS

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria (87612 participants). Six studies were performed in children. A total of three studies found an association between AR and dental caries. Only two studies had adjusted the measure of effect for potentially confounding variables. Regarding the quality of the selected studies according to the NICE classification, the most observed methodological limitations detected were: (1) the cross-sectional design of the included studies which could have introduced a simultaneity bias, and (2) not clearly reporting the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review can neither confirm nor deny the presence of an association between AR and caries. Despite the evidence is very scarce to conclude a relationship between AR and caries, the option for examining patients with repetitive caries by an otolaryngologist and those with AR by odontologist should be considered, as these examinations do not possess any risk for the patient.

The Impact of Oral Health Behaviors, Health Belief Model, and Absolute Risk Aversion on the Willingness of Japanese University Students to Undergo Regular Dental Check-Ups: A Cross-Sectional Study

Oral health behaviors, risk aversion, and the health belief model are associated with health behaviors. However, there have been few studies that investigated the association between these factors and the willingness to undergo regular dental check-ups. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the associations between the willingness of Japanese university students to undergo regular dental check-ups and oral health behaviors, the health belief model, and absolute risk aversion. An analysis was conducted with the cooperation of questionnaire respondents (n = 748) who underwent dental check-ups at Okayama University. The students answered questionnaires on oral health behaviors, the health belief model, absolute risk aversion, and willingness to undergo regular dental check-ups. The logistic regression analysis showed significant positive associations (p < 0.05) between oral health behaviors (use of the inter-dental brush and the dental floss) and the health belief model with the willingness to undergo regular dental check-ups. However, there was no significant association with absolute risk aversion (p > 0.05). These results suggest that willingness to undergo regular dental check-ups was associated with oral health behaviors and the health belief model, but not with absolute risk aversion.

Pulmonary disease and periodontal health: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Research has shown a positive relationship between pulmonary and periodontal disease. However, the relationship remains unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the associations between pulmonary disease and periodontal health.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Science Citation Index, Wanfang, and CNKI were searched for all the relevant studies of relationship between pulmonary disease and periodontal health. Weighted mean difference (WMD)/odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of the association.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed a significant association between pulmonary and periodontal disease (adjusted OR, 1.93; 95%CI: 1.60-2.33; P < 0.05), and pooled adjusted OR was 1.64, 3.03, and 2.21 in COPD, asthma, and pneumonia, respectively. The pooled analysis also showed that patients with pulmonary disease suffered from worse periodontal health as most periodontal indexes in those patients were poorer.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a strong association between pulmonary disease and periodontal health. Clinical trials analyzing the causality and pathological basis of the association of these two diseases are needed.