Multiple risk factors of periodontal disease: a study of 9260 Japanese non‐smokers

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is a lifestyle‐related disease. Risk factors include cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and hyperlipidemia are the main determinants of the metabolic syndrome that may be derived from insulin resistance (IR). In the present study, we examine the relationships between PD and IR‐related factors. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional study of 9260 non‐smoking urban Japanese. The subjects were comprised of three groups, aged 40, 50 and 60 years. Periodontal status was evaluated using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN). Serum samples were analyzed with an automated spectrophotometer. Results: Logistic regression analysis of the data showed that age ( P = 0.0001), sex (male, P = 0.0045), body mass index (BMI, P = 0.017), mean blood pressure (mBP, P = 0.0297) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG, P = 0.0001) were the variables significantly associated with the prevalence of PD. There was a negative correlation between serum low dense lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and PD ( P = 0.0001). In the age‐adjusted profiles, sex (male, P < 0.01), mBP ( P < 0.01) and FPG ( P < 0.001) had a significantly correlation with PD at age 60, while an inverse correlation between LDL and the prevalence of PD was seen only in the 40‐year‐old group ( P < 0.001). Conclusion This is the first study showing that mBP and LDL are factors that may determine the prevalence of PD. Lifestyle‐related factors could play an important role in the progression of PD.