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.
The association between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease in a population-based cross-sectional case-control study
