Association between dry eye and periodontal disease in community-dwelling Japanese adults: data from the Uonoma cohort study.

BACKGROUND: While research has explored the risk of periodontal disease in various eye conditions, the link between dry eye and periodontal disease remains underexplored, especially in Japanese adults. This study aims to investigate the association between dry eye and periodontal disease in community-dwelling Japanese adults. METHODS: This study is a subset of the Uonuma cohort study, which includes Japanese adults aged 40 years and older residing in the Uonuma area of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Participants completed a self-administered, paper-based questionnaire. Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, independent t test, ANOVA test, and logistic regressions, were employed to assess the association of periodontal disease with independent variables. RESULTS: Among 36,488 participants (average age 63.3 years, 47.4% men), 39.3% had a history of periodontal disease, and gender differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Significant associations were found between periodontal disease and dry eye diagnosis or symptoms. Univariable logistic regression revealed links between periodontal disease and age, gender, living status, alcohol consumption, remaining teeth, bite molar availability, and history of dry eye disease or symptoms. Multiple-adjusted regression found that doctor-diagnosed dry eye was associated with a higher likelihood of periodontal disease (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.22). Participants who never experienced dryness or foreign body sensation had lower ORs of periodontal disease than those who always experienced such symptoms across all models. CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was found between dry eye and periodontal disease in Japanese adults. Regular check-ups, early detection, and effective management of both conditions are strongly recommended.

A cross-sectional study of the association between periodontitis and physical activity in the Japanese population.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether physical activity (PA) is associated with periodontitis in the Japanese population. BACKGROUND: The potential association between PA and periodontitis has not been thoroughly investigated in the Japanese population. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study for the Next-Generation Oral Health Study. Periodontitis was determined by a full-mouth periodontal examination. PA was assessed using a validated questionnaire. We performed multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses to assess the association of total PA (the first quintile was set as the reference category) with periodontitis (three categories: no/mild, moderate, and severe), stratified by sex. The associations of periodontitis with domain- and intensity-specific PA were also studied in separate logistic regression models. RESULTS: This study included 2160 Japanese adults [1414 women and 746 men; mean (standard deviation) age 58.1 (9.6) years]. After adjusting for potential confounders, total PA was inversely associated with the presence and severity of periodontitis in women. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for periodontitis in the second to fifth quintiles (compared with the first quintile) of total PA were 0.81 (0.59-1.12), 0.74 (0.53-1.02), 0.77 (0.55-1.06), and 0.64 (0.46-0.89), respectively (p for trend = .01). We did not find different results when we further investigated the associations of periodontitis with domain- and intensity-specific PA. By contrast, PA was not associated with periodontitis in men. CONCLUSION: Total PA had an inverse, linear association with the presence and severity of periodontitis in Japanese women but not in Japanese men. Further prospective studies are required to determine the association between PA and periodontitis.

Career outcomes and satisfaction among graduates of a 4-year oral health and welfare baccalaureate program at Niigata University, Japan: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Globally, baccalaureate programs in dental hygiene are increasingly established. In addition, in Japan, many dental hygienists (DHs) and social workers (SWs) are prematurely leaving the workforce. This study aimed to investigate the most recent employment, career outcomes, reasons for a job change, and satisfaction with the job and undergraduate curriculum among graduates of the baccalaureate program at the Department of Oral Health and Welfare (DOHW), Faculty of Dentistry, Niigata University. METHODS: All 262 graduates (graduating classes 1-10) of the DOHW were invited to participate in this survey; an original self-administered questionnaire was distributed to those who consented. Responses were received from 114 (43.5%) graduates. RESULTS: Almost all respondents (89.5%) had dual licensure as both DH and certified SW. They were employed immediately after graduation (99.1%) and at the time of the survey (96.5%). Over 60% of them worked as DHs, mainly in hospitals. SWs mainly worked in administration. Among the 113 respondents who were employed, 39.8% changed jobs at least once. The main reasons for job selection were 'interest in job content' and 'flexible working hours'. Nearly 90% of the respondents felt satisfied or fairly satisfied with their job and their undergraduate education. CONCLUSIONS: A quality 4-year baccalaureate degree program in dental hygiene and social welfare positively influenced graduates' work continuity. Most graduates felt satisfied or fairly satisfied with their job and the undergraduate curriculum. Employment rates within each profession and the prevalence of hospital and administrative roles were higher than national averages. Long-term studies of graduates' career outcomes are warranted.

Interaction between serum vitamin C levels and smoking on the periodontal condition in older adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several epidemiological studies have reported that smokers have a higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease than do nonsmokers, and that smoking negatively affects nutritional status and is associated with a reduced intake of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C. The present investigation aimed to examine the relationship between serum vitamin C levels and smoking and its influence on the periodontal condition in older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 353 respondents met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the present study. The periodontal status of the study participants was determined through examinations of one or more residual teeth, which included a measurement of the probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) at six regions of each tooth. Blood samples were collected during the dental examinations and then sent to a laboratory to evaluate serum vitamin C and cotinine levels. A serum cotinine concentration of 100 ng/ml was considered a relevant threshold for active smoking. After dividing the participants into two groups according to serum cotinine levels, Poisson regression analysis was carried out to compare vitamin C levels with the prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for periodontal condition markers for each group based on serum cotinine levels. RESULTS: We evaluated differences in the PRR of serum vitamin C tertiles between participants with high (≥100 ng/ml) or low (<100 ng/ml) serum cotinine levels after adjusting for sex, the use of interdental brushes or dental floss, and the number of teeth. A negative tendency between the PRR of vitamin C tertiles for the PPD or CAL was seen for both groups. Especially, a bigger difference was observed in the group with high serum cotinine levels. The PRR of the first tertiles in the high serum cotinine group was 5.03, compared with 2.69 in the low serum cotinine group (relative risk: 1.9). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest a potential association between vitamin C levels and the periodontal condition, which may be influenced by smoking status.

Relationship between alcohol consumption and periodontal tissue condition in community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations among alcohol consumption level, dietary intake and other lifestyle factors, and periodontal condition, in community-dwelling elderly Japanese of a specific age. BACKGROUND: The relationship between alcohol consumption level and periodontitis is a controversial issue. METHODS: Participants were 438 dentate elders aged 73 years from a larger cohort survey of elders in Niigata City, Japan. Data collected from oral examination of each participant, including number of the existing teeth, mean probing pocket depth and mean clinical attachment level (CAL) were used for the analyses. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and a lifestyle habit questionnaire were used to assess food and alcohol consumption, smoking experience, frequency of tooth brushing, interdental brush use, and visits to a dental clinic during the previous year. Blood glucose control was assessed by the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level. Body mass index was calculated from height and weight measurements. The relationships between each variable and the individual mean CAL were analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: According to logistic regression analysis, the mean CAL was significantly associated with the number of existing teeth (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; P < .001), being a heavy drinker (OR = 2.44; P < .05), and smoking experience (OR = 2.37; P < .01). CONCLUSION: This study showed that increased mean CAL was significantly associated with heavy drinking in community-dwelling elderly Japanese (aged 73 years) compared with non-drinking. Our results provide new evidence that high alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of periodontal disease and its progression.

Association Between Low Kidney Function and Excess Weight Concerning Unfavourable Periodontal Health among Community-dwelling Older Japanese Women.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association of low renal function and overweight with poor periodontal condition in community-dwelling older Japanese women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 359 older women (age range: 55-74 years) participated in this study. Two periodontal parameters - the number of teeth with a probing pocket depth (PPD) or clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 4 mm - were used as the dependent variables. The principal independent variables were low renal function as defined by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and overweight as defined by the body mass index. Poisson regression analysis was used to calculate the ratio of means (RM). RESULTS: The RMs of the number of teeth with a PPD or CAL ≥ 4 mm in an adjusted model without an interaction term were 1.21- or 1.27-fold higher among those with an eGFR < 60, while those among the participants with an eGFR < 60 in the adjusted model with interaction terms for the number of teeth with a PPD or CAL ≥ 4 mm were 1.43- or 1.36-fold higher. In addition, increments of periodontal risk with low renal function and overweight showed a slightly smaller to negative trend. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest a connection between unfavourable periodontal health and both renal function and being overweight among older Japanese women. A weak negative interaction was also found between poor renal condition and overweight in relation to periodontal condition.

Associations between Plasma Antibody Levels against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Atrial Fibrillation among Community-Dwelling Older Individuals in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between plasma antibody levels against Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) and atrial fibrillation (AF) history in community-dwelling older individuals in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a subset of the Uonuma cohort study, including 3091 participants aged 60-79 years. Data were collected, including AF history as a dependent variable, plasma immunoglobulin G antibody levels against PG as an independent variable, and previously reported AF risk factors and demographic information as covariates. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 69 years. Of the 3091 participants, 1411 (45.6%) were men, and 56 (1.8%) had an AF history. AF prevalence was significantly higher in participants with higher antibody levels against PG than in those with lower antibody levels (3.0% vs 1.4%; p = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that participants with higher antibody levels against PG had twofold higher odds of having AF (odds ratio = 2.13; 95% confidence interval = 1.23-3.69). Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship between antibody levels against PG and AF history. CONCLUSION: Plasma antibody levels against PG were associated with AF history in community-dwelling older individuals in Japan.

Diet and root surface caries in a cohort of older Japanese.

OBJECTIVES: Root surface caries experience tends to increase with age. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the relationship between aspects of dietary intake, including milk and sucrose in coffee or tea (SCT), and root surface caries in older Japanese individuals. METHODS: 303 community-dwelling older individuals (age 75 years) were enrolled for analysis. All participants underwent a dental examination at baseline and then annually from 2003 to 2008 (ie six times over a 5-year period). A disease event was considered to have occurred when root surface caries was detected on a previously sound or nonexposed root surface. Over the observation period, disease events in each year were counted. Dietary habits during the preceding month were evaluated using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) in 2003 and 2008. Poisson regression analysis performed crude and adjusted increment-rate ratios (IRRs) for root surface caries and the intake of milk and SCT. RESULTS: The adjusted increment-rate ratio (IRR) of the increment of root surface caries for participants in the highest SCT tertile was 1.72 (95%CI: 1.40-2.14) compared with the referent group. In addition, for the amount of milk intake, the adjusted IRR in the highest tertile was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.51-0.78) compared with the referent group. CONCLUSIONS: Much SCT and low milk intake were associated with the increment of root surface caries in community-dwelling older people in Japan. These findings suggest that to help prevent root surface caries, community-dwelling older people in Japan should consume adequate amounts of milk daily and limit their intake of SCT.