Development and validation of a predictive model for periodontitis using NHANES 2011-2012 data

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Systemic Inflammation Response Index are Associated With Periodontitis: Evidence From NHANES 2009 to 2014

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of the teeth, is a substantial public health burrden whilst impacting the life quality of those affected. Elevated levels of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) have been implicated in various inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SII and SIRI with periodontitis.

METHODS

The study examined a total of 8666 participants in the 2009 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study compared the weighted prevalence of periodontitis among various groups. The association between SII, SIRI levels, and periodontitis was analyzed using binary logistic regression. Additionally, we explored nonlinear relationships between SII, SIRI, and the prevalence of periodontitis using restricted cubic spline (RCS) plots.

RESULTS

Among participants in the fourth quartile (Q4) of SII and SIRI, the highest prevalence of periodontitis was observed, with rates of 44.87% and 48.41%, respectively. After adjusting for all covariates, the odds ratio (OR) for periodontitis associated with SII Q4 was 1.19 (95% CI 1.02, 1.39, P = .03), while for SIRI Q4, it was 1.18 (95% CI 1.01, 1.39, P = .04). In addition, the results of sensitivity analysis revealed consistent findings, indicating that after adjusting for all covariates, the OR for periodontitis associated with SII Q4 and SIRI Q4 remained statistically significant. Specifically, the OR for periodontitis associated with SII Q4 was 1.19 (95% CI 1.02, 1.39, P = .03), while for SIRI Q4, it was 1.19 (95% CI 1.01, 1.40, P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that elevated SII and SIRI levels are associated with an increased prevalence of periodontitis.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

These findings suggest a potential connection between systemic inflammation and periodontitis, highlighting the importance of periodontitis patients being aware of their systemic diseases that are inflammatory in nature such as chronic cardiovascular afflictions.

Association between blood ethylene oxide levels and the prevalence of periodontitis: evidence from NHANES 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to establish a link between blood ethylene oxide (EO) levels and periodontitis, given the growing concern about EO's detrimental health effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 1006 adults from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. We assessed periodontitis prevalence across groups, used weighted binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline fitting for HbEO-periodontitis association, and employed Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for prediction.

RESULTS

In the periodontitis group, HbEO levels were significantly higher (40.57 vs. 28.87 pmol/g Hb, P < 0.001). The highest HbEO quartile showed increased periodontitis risk (OR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.31, 6.31, P = 0.01). A "J"-shaped nonlinear HbEO-periodontitis relationship existed (NL-P value = 0.0116), with an inflection point at ln-HbEO = 2.96 (EO = 19.30 pmol/g Hb). Beyond this, ln-HbEO correlated with higher periodontitis risk. A predictive model incorporating sex, age, education, poverty income ratio, alcohol consumption, and HbEO had 69.9% sensitivity and 69.2% specificity. The model achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.761.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest a correlation between HbEO levels and an increased susceptibility to periodontitis.

Association between probiotic consumption and periodontitis: Evidence from NHANES 2009-2014

AIM

The study aimed to provide evidence of the relationship between probiotics consumption and periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 4577 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 2009-2014 were included in the study. The weighted prevalence of periodontitis was compared among different groups, and a weighted binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between probiotic consumption and periodontitis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the role of probiotic consumption in the periodontitis prediction model.

RESULTS

Participants who consumed probiotics had a significantly lower prevalence of periodontitis than those who did not (41.08% vs. 27.83%, p < .001). After fully adjusting for all factors, the odds ratio associated with periodontitis for consuming probiotics was 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.54-0.92, p = .01) when compared with those who did not consume probiotics. A predictive model including age, sex, ethnicity, poverty income ratio, smoking status and probiotics had 77.0% sensitivity and 60.3% specificity in detecting periodontitis in US adults and achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.749.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that consuming probiotics is associated with a reduced risk of periodontitis.

Association between the presence and genotype of Helicobacter pylori and periodontitis

Whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with periodontitis has been contested for decades. The relationship between H. pylori genotypes and periodontitis has not been clarified either. The present study provides a novel perspective to better understand the role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. A total of 53 volunteers were recruited and divided into 3 groups in this cross-sectional study, namely the periodontally healthy group (15 participants), the stage I/II periodontitis group (20 participants) and the stage III/IV periodontitis group (18 participants). DNA from the subgingival plaque of all participants was extracted and PCR was performed using specific primers for the urease C gene and cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA)/vacuolating cytotoxin gene A (vacA) to detect the presence and genotype of H. pylori. A χ2 test and one-way ANOVA were performed on the data. There was no significant difference in sex, age or body mass index between the groups. The detection rate of H. pylori was 39.62% in the total population and increased with the deepening of probing depth and clinical attachment loss. There were significant differences in the detection rate of H. pylori among the three groups, with 13.33, 40.00 and 61.11% in the periodontally healthy, stage I/II periodontitis and stage III/IV periodontitis groups, respectively (χ2=8.760, P<0.001). The cagA-/vacAs2m2 genotype was most commonly detected in the periodontally healthy group (100%). In the periodontitis group, cagA+/vacAs1m2 was the most commonly detected genotype in the stage I/II periodontitis group (37.5%) and cagA+/vacAs1m1 in the stage III/IV periodontitis group (36.3%). The results of the present study suggest that the detection rates and genotypes of H. pylori in the subgingival plaque are associated with the status of periodontitis. cagA+/vacAs1m1 and cagA+/vacAs1m2 may be considered virulence markers of periodontitis. However, given the small sample size and lack of correlation analysis of the study, further larger scale and high-quality clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.

Optimizing a Diagnostic Model of Periodontitis by Using Targeted Proteomics

Periodontitis (PD), a widespread chronic infectious disease, compromises oral health and is associated with various systemic conditions and hematological alterations. Yet, to date, it is not clear whether serum protein profiling improves the assessment of PD. We collected general health data, performed dental examinations, and generated serum protein profiles using novel Proximity Extension Assay technology for 654 participants of the Bialystok PLUS study. To evaluate the incremental benefit of proteomics, we constructed two logistic regression models assessing the risk of having PD according to the CDC/AAP definition; the first one contained established PD predictors, and in addition, the second one was enhanced by extensive protein information. We then compared both models in terms of overall fit, discrimination, and calibration. For internal model validation, we performed bootstrap resampling (n = 2000). We identified 14 proteins, which improved the global fit and discrimination of a model of established PD risk factors, while maintaining reasonable calibration (area under the curve 0.82 vs 0.86; P < 0.001). Our results suggest that proteomic technologies offer an interesting advancement in the goal of finding easy-to-use and scalable diagnostic applications for PD that do not require direct examination of the periodontium.

Self-reported questionnaire on periodontal condition validated for use in Brazil

There is a current expectation of instruments for periodontal condition surveillance worldwide. The present study aimed to validate the Oral Health Questions Set B (OHQB) for the Brazilian Portuguese and evaluate its temporal stability. This is a sequential mixed-method investigation. After the forward-backward translation process to the Brazilian Portuguese, the OHQB Brazil (OHQB-Br) was applied to 156 participants (39.5 ± 14.14 years; 51.9% males). In sequence, through a full-mouth six-sites/teeth examination and in accordance with the original instrument, the periodontal diagnosis was obtained (March 2020). In January 2021, the OHB-BR was reapplied (n = 71). Ordinal alpha and McDonald's omega tested the internal consistency of the OHQB-Br. Temporal stability was investigated [Spearman correlation, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and the Bland-Altman]. The concurrent validity was also verified, considering the periodontal clinical diagnosis (Kruskal Wallis). The ordinal alpha (0.69) and McDonald's omega (0.73) coefficients showed an adequate internal consistency of the OHQB-Br. The OHQB-Br temporal stability was high, as demonstrated by the Spearman coefficient (0.80) and ICC (0.79) and by the Bland-Altman plot. A concurrent validity showed a direct relationship between the OHQB-Br and the clinical condition of no periodontitis, mild, moderate, and severe periodontitis (p < 0.05). Because the OHQB-Br shows internal validity, temporal stability, and adequately identifies periodontal health and moderate/severe periodontitis, the instrument might represent an important tool, at the public level or other settings, for periodontal surveillance in Brazil.

Farm vehicle crashes on public roads: Analysis of farm-level factors

PURPOSE

Rural public roads experience higher crash fatality rates than other roadways, with agricultural equipment adding greater risk of injury and fatality. This study set out to describe farmers' experiences with farm equipment crashes and predictors of crashes at the farm level.

METHODS

A survey of farm operators was conducted in 9 Midwestern states (IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, and WI) in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistical Service.

FINDINGS

From 1,282 farms operating equipment on public roads in 2013, 7.6% of farmers reported that equipment from their farm had ever been in a crash (n = 97). Crashes occurred most often in June-August (44.0%) and were most often reported as being during the daytime (71.3%), on dry roads (79.4%), or in clear weather (71.4%). While most farmers responded that they were driving the farm equipment at the time of the crash (52.0%), nearly half of crashes involved their employees as the driver (48.0%). Crashes often went unreported to law enforcement (28.6%).

CONCLUSION

To illustrate crash probabilities for farms with different profiles, we included farm acreage, crop farming, vehicle horsepower, annual miles driven, and the total number of farm vehicles driven on public roads in a predictive model. Large crop farms of 241+ acres, those who drove farm vehicles 1,430+ miles per year, and those with 20 or more farm vehicles had the highest probability of crash of 0.14.

Periodontal breakdown inter-tooth relationships in estimating periodontitis-related tooth loss

OBJECTIVES

The reasons for tooth extraction are rarely recorded in epidemiological datasets. It poses a diagnostic challenge to determine if tooth loss is related to periodontal disease (TLPD). The present study aimed to assess the inter-tooth relationships based on the periodontal characteristics of existing teeth.

METHODS

A cross-sectional dataset of 8,978 participants with complete periodontal examination (including probing pocket depth [PPD] and clinical attachment loss [CAL]) in the NHANES 2009-2014 was used in this study. Spearman rank correlation was applied to assess the inter-tooth correlations of PPD/CAL among 28 teeth after adjustment for relevant confounders. We further verify our findings in the Java Project on Periodontal Disease with TLPD information available (the number of TLPD = 12).

RESULTS

Strong PPD/CAL correlations were observed in adjacent teeth (r for PPD = 0.652, r for CAL = 0.597; false discovery rate [FDR] <0.05) rather than those on non-adjacent teeth (r for PPD = 0.515, r for CAL = 0.476; FDR <0.05). The correlations increased among severe periodontitis cases (CAL ≥5 mm or PPD ≥6 mm). In line with this, we further observed that the teeth adjacent to the TLPD tooth had the most alveolar bone loss in the Java dataset.

CONCLUSION

The periodontitis parameters (PPD/CAL) of adjacent teeth could be a potential indicator to estimate TLPD when actual reasons for tooth extraction are unknown.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Periodontally compromised teeth adjacent to a lost tooth may help estimate whether the loss could be related to periodontal disease when the actual extraction reasons are unknown.

Accuracy of a 7-Item Patient-Reported Stand-Alone Tool for Periodontitis Screening

Periodontitis is interrelated with various other chronic diseases. Recent evidence suggests that treatment of periodontitis improves glycemic control in diabetes patients and reduces the costs of diabetes treatment. So far, however, screening for periodontitis in non-dental settings has been complicated by a lack of easily applicable and reliable screening tools which can be applied by non-dental professionals. The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a short seven-item tool developed by the German Society for Periodontology (DG PARO) to screen for periodontitis by means of patient-reported information. A total of 88 adult patients filled in the patient-reported Periodontitis Risk Score (pPRS; range: 0 points = lowest periodontitis risk; 20 points = very high periodontitis risk) questionnaire before dental check-up at Heidelberg University Hospital. Subsequent clinical assessments according to Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR®) were compared with pPRS scores. The diagnostic accuracy of pPRS at different cutoff values was assessed according to sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values, as well as Receiver-Operator-Characteristic curves, Area Under the Curve (AUC), and logistic regression analysis. According to combined specificity and sensitivity (AUC = 0.86; 95%-CI: 0.76-0.95), the diagnostic accuracy of the pPRS for detecting periodontal inflammation (PSR® ≥ 3) was highest for a pPRS cutoff distinguishing between pPRS scores < 7 vs. ≥ 7. Patients with pPRS scores ≥ 7 had a 36.09 (95%-CI: 9.82-132.61) times higher chance of having a PSR® ≥ 3 than patients with scores < 7. In conclusion, the pPRS may be considered an appropriately accurate stand-alone tool for the screening for periodontitis.

The prevalence and severity of periodontal disease in Mainland China: Data from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey (2015-2016)

AIM

To evaluate periodontal conditions in adults in mainland China based on data from the 4th National Oral Health Survey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data of adult subjects (35- to 44-year-old group [N = 4409], 55- to 64-year-old group [N = 4622], and 65- to 74-year-old group [N = 4428]) were analysed. Demographic, socio-economic, personal habit, dental history, and health attitude data were obtained using a questionnaire. Periodontal condition was assessed using the standardized case definitions of the 2018 classification scheme. A multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between periodontitis severity and age, smoking status, gender, and region using generalized additive models after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

The frequency of subjects with periodontitis was 52.8%, 69.3%, and 64.6% in the three age groups, respectively. The frequency of subjects with severe periodontitis (stage III or IV) was 10.6%, 37.3%, and 43.5% in the three age groups, respectively. The severity of periodontal disease was positively associated with age. Current and former smokers exhibited significantly greater disease severity than non-smokers after adjustment for confounders. No significant difference of severity was found between males and females.

CONCLUSION

Within the limitations of the study, the prevalence of periodontitis is very high among adults in mainland China. Periodontal status is associated with age and smoking status.

The impact of smoking on non-surgical periodontal therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Smoking is a risk factor for periodontitis. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of smoking on clinical outcomes of non-surgical periodontal therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic databases were searched to screen studies published before May 2020. The included studies had to have two groups: smokers (S) and non-smokers (NS) with periodontitis. The outcomes evaluated were differences between groups in probing depth (PD) reduction and clinical attachment level (CAL) gain after non-surgical periodontal therapy. Meta-regressions were conducted to evaluate correlations between outcomes and other contributing factors.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included. The post-treatment PD reduction in the S group was smaller than in the NS group (weighted mean difference in PD reduction: -0.33 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): [-0.49, -0.17], p < .01). The CAL gain in the S group was also smaller than in the NS group (weighted mean difference in CAL gain: -0.20 mm, CI: [-0.39, -0.02], p < .01). Additionally, baseline PD significantly affected the difference in PD reduction between two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking negatively impacts clinical responses to non-surgical periodontal therapy. Smokers with periodontitis have significantly less PD reduction and CAL gain than non-smokers.

Relationship between Blood and Standard Biochemistry Levels with Periodontitis in Parkinson's Disease Patients: Data from the NHANES 2011-2012

People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) are associated with the presence of periodontitis. We aimed to compare blood and standard biochemical surrogates of PD patients diagnosed with periodontitis with PD individuals without periodontitis. This retrospective cohort study used a sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 that underwent periodontal diagnosis (n = 3669). PD participants were identified through specific PD reported medications. Periodontitis was defined according to the 2012 case definition, using periodontal examination data provided. Then, we compared blood levels and standard chemical laboratory profiles of PD patients according to the presence of periodontitis. Multivariable regression was used to explore this dataset and identify relevant variables towards the presence of periodontitis. According to the medication report, 37 participants were eligible, 29 were secure and 8 were unsecure PD medications regimens. Overall, PD cases with periodontitis presented increased levels of White Blood Cells (WBC) (p = 0.002), Basophils (p = 0.045) and Segmented neutrophils (p = 0.009), and also, lower levels of Total Bilirubin (p = 0.018). In the PD secure medication group, a significant difference was found for WBC (p = 0.002) and Segmented neutrophils (p = 0.002) for the periodontitis group. Further, WBC might be a discriminating factor towards periodontitis in the global sample. In the secure PD medication, we found gender, segmented neutrophils and Vitamin D2 to be potential discriminative variables towards periodontitis. Thus, periodontitis showed association with leukocyte levels alterations in PD patients, and therefore with potential systemic changes and predictive value. Furthermore, Vitamin D2 and gender showed to be associated with periodontitis in with secure medication for PD. Future studies should assess in more detail the potential systemic repercussion of the presence of periodontitis in PD patients.

Preventive healthcare policies in the US: solutions for disease management using Big Data Analytics

Data-driven healthcare policy discussions are gaining traction after the Covid-19 outbreak and ahead of the 2020 US presidential elections. The US has a hybrid healthcare structure; it is a system that does not provide universal coverage, albeit few years ago enacted a mandate (Affordable Care Act-ACA) that provides coverage for the majority of Americans. The US has the highest health expenditure per capita of all western and developed countries; however, most Americans don't tap into the benefits of preventive healthcare. It is estimated that only 8% of Americans undergo routine preventive screenings. On a national level, very few states (15 out of the 50) have above-average preventive healthcare metrics. In literature, many studies focus on the cure of diseases (research areas such as drug discovery and disease prediction); whilst a minority have examined data-driven preventive measures-a matter that Americans and policy makers ought to place at the forefront of national issues. In this work, we present solutions for preventive practices and policies through Machine Learning (ML) methods. ML is morally neutral, it depends on the data that train the models; in this work, we make the case that Big Data is an imperative paradigm for healthcare. We examine disparities in clinical data for US patients by developing correlation and imputation methods for data completeness. Non-conventional patterns are identified. The data lifecycle followed is methodical and deliberate; 1000+ clinical, demographical, and laboratory variables are collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multiple statistical models are deployed (Pearson correlations, Cramer's V, MICE, and ANOVA). Other unsupervised ML models are also examined (K-modes and K-prototypes for clustering). Through the results presented in the paper, pointers to preventive chronic disease tests are presented, and the models are tested and evaluated.

Alveolar bone loss, platelet and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in 239 patients. A clinical study

Background

The relation between periodontal disease and systemic pathologies is still not widespread among general practitioners. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether or not periodontal radiological diagnosis can aid the detection of blood alterations associated with acquired systemic diseases.

Material and Methods

This is a cross sectional study. All of the participants underwent a panoramic radiograph and a complete blood test. Morphological bone loss was considered as positive in those patients who showed radiographically more than 1 tooth with bone loss greater than or equal to the middle third of the root. The statistical analysis was performed by comparing the variables using the ANOVA or U-Mann-Whitney tests for independent samples with normal conditions. The correlation coefficient was analysed using the Pearson test.

Results

239 patients were included in our study (96 men and 143 women) with an average age of 64.40 years. 59.04% of the patients were determined as morphological bone loss positive and had on average 4 teeth less than negative patients (p <0.0001). Also the average platelet levels in positive patients were lower (p = 0.024) and mean levels of HBA1c (p = 0.009) were higher.

Conclusions

Morphological bone loss parameter can be useful both for dentists and general practitioners to refer, subsequently, to periodontal specialist.

Key words:Periodontal diseases, blood chemical analysis, blood platelets, alkaline phosphatase, glycosylated haemoglobin A, alveolar bone loss.

Age-Specific Predictive Models of the Upper Quintile of Periodontal Attachment Loss

A practical method to identify people who are most affected by periodontitis in their age group is currently unavailable. We focused on individuals with mean clinical attachment loss (CAL) above the 80th percentile within each of 10 age groups (5-y intervals between 30 and 74 y as well as ≥75 y). We developed predictive models using combined data from 2 cohorts (2009 to 2010 and 2011 to 2012) from the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; development cohort [DC], n = 6,757), and we carried out external validation using data from a third NHANES cohort (2013 to 2014; validation cohort [VC], n = 3,447). We used 1) age-specific logistic regression models with stepwise selection to identify significant demographic variables, habits, medical conditions, and selected clinical periodontal parameters (proportion of teeth with probing depth ≥4 mm at incisors and molars and with visible [≥2 mm] recession) and to calculate propensity scores (PSs); 2) Youden's J statistic to select optimum PS cutoffs to maximize diagnostic performance using receiver operating characteristic curves; and 3) bootstrap resampling with 1,000 replicates to validate the age-specific models and adjust the PS and optimal PS cutoffs for overfitting. The bootstrap-adjusted PSs were used as single predictors of mean CAL over the 80th percentile in the VC. The age-specific upper quintiles of mean CAL ranged between 1.63 and 3.24 mm in the DC and between 1.87 and 3.20 mm in the VC. The area under the curve of the models exceeded 0.85 in all age groups in the DC and 0.84 in the VC, indicating well-validated diagnostic performance. In the DC, sensitivity values ranged between 0.75 and 0.97 and exceeded 0.83 in 8 of 10 age groups. Corresponding values in the VC ranged between 0.56 and 0.89 and exceeded 0.68 in 8 of 10 age groups. We conclude that modeling that incorporates readily obtainable variables through a brief patient interview and an abbreviated periodontal examination accurately identifies individuals who are most affected by periodontitis in different ages.

Periodontal Health and Use of Oral Health Services: A Comparison of Germans and Two Migrant Groups

A cross-sectional study was performed with 251 individuals, consisting of 127 Germans, 68 migrants from Turkey, and 56 resettlers (migrants from the former Soviet Union with German ancestors) to compare periodontal health status, with a special focus on associations with lifestyle and anthropometric factors, and use of dental health services. Maximal pocket depth was used as a clinical surrogate marker for periodontitis. Other variables were obtained by questionnaires administered by a Turkish or Russian interpreter. The age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of periodontitis was significantly higher in Turks (odds ratio (OR) 2.84, 95% CI = 1.53–5.26) and slightly higher in resettlers (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.71–2.49). These differences are partly explained by a differential distribution of known risk factors for periodontitis. A full model showed a higher prevalence of maximal pocket depth above 5 mm in Turks (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 0.99–3.92). Use of oral health services was significantly lower in the two migrant groups. Individuals who reported regular visits to a dentist had significantly less periodontitis, independent of migrant status. A reasonable conclusion is that, since oral health causes major chronic diseases and has a major effect on total health system expenditures, public health efforts both generally and specifically focused on migrant groups are warranted.