Life course social mobility, race and tooth loss in adulthood: The role of dental health services.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the extent to which dental care factors in adulthood modify and, at the same time, mediate the association between race/ethnicity and social mobility from childhood to adulthood with two oral health outcomes in adults. METHODS: In 2012, 1222 individuals 20-59 years old participated in the second wave of the Epi-Floripa Study in Florianopolis, Brazil. Exposures included social mobility based on adulthood and childhood events, dental care in previous years, type of dental care coverage, reason for dental visits and race. The number of missing and decayed teeth were dichotomised as MT >0 and DT >0. RESULTS: The prevalence of missing and decayed teeth was 61.9% and 23.0%, respectively. Age-sex adjusted inequalities in decayed and missing teeth among Black and White individuals were 41.2 percentage points (pp) (95% CI: 3.9-78.7) and 53.1 pp (19.5:86.7), respectively. Inequalities between those persistently higher and lower in socioeconomic position were 42.6 pp (14.6-70.7) and 90.0 pp (62.1-100). The Relative Excess of Risk due to Interaction (RERI) was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analyses showed that dental care variables accounted for a small proportion of inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: This result implies that dental care is unlikely to significantly reduce or increase oral health inequalities in this particular population.

Prevalence and experience of dental caries among Singaporean schoolchildren: A time-trend analysis from 2007 to 2019.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe caries prevalence and experience trends of permanent teeth among Singapore schoolchildren between 2007 and 2019. METHODS: Anonymized records of all 6-year-old Primary 1 (P1), 11-year-old Primary 6 (P6) and 14-year-old Secondary 3 (S3) before the start of each school year were extracted from the Integrated Dental Electronic Assessment System (IDEAS) by school level, ethnicity and sex. Prais-Winsten regression was used to assess trends of mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) and caries prevalence (% DMFT > 0) among the schoolchildren by school level, with reported Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) together with respective 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: In total, 519 471 P1, 566 573 P6 and 548 138 S3 were included during the above period, and the majority were comprised of Chinese children (P1: 67.2%, P6: 68.8% and S3: 71.0%, respectively). Overall, the prevalence of caries dropped from 6.9% in 2007 to 3.5% in 2019 among P1, from 34.5% in 2009 to 20.3% in 2019 among P6 and from 41.5% in 2007 to 33.5% in 2019 among S3 schoolchildren. The mean DMFT reduced from 0.11 to 0.05 among P1, 0.72 to 0.35 among P6 and 1.05 to 0.76 among S3 schoolchildren during the same period. Caries prevalence and mean DMFT were consistently higher among girls. On average, caries prevalence decreased 5% per year in P1 (AAPC -5.0 [95% CI: -6.1, -3.9]) and P6 (AAPC -4.9 [95% CI: -5.7, -4.1]) and 2% among S3 (AAPC -2.0 [95% CI: -3.5, -0.4]) schoolchildren. Caries prevalence decreased approximately 4% ~ 5% annually among P1 and P6 schoolchildren regardless of ethnicity. The average decrease in caries prevalence was lower (about 2%) among all ethnicities at S3 school level. CONCLUSION: Dental caries in permanent dentition of Singaporean schoolchildren had decreased from 2007 to 2019. However, the decrease observed among primary school students was more than double that among secondary schoolchildren.

Federated and distributed learning applications for electronic health records and structured medical data: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: Federated learning (FL) has gained popularity in clinical research in recent years to facilitate privacy-preserving collaboration. Structured data, one of the most prevalent forms of clinical data, has experienced significant growth in volume concurrently, notably with the widespread adoption of electronic health records in clinical practice. This review examines FL applications on structured medical data, identifies contemporary limitations, and discusses potential innovations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched 5 databases, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL, to identify articles that applied FL to structured medical data and reported results following the PRISMA guidelines. Each selected publication was evaluated from 3 primary perspectives, including data quality, modeling strategies, and FL frameworks. RESULTS: Out of the 1193 papers screened, 34 met the inclusion criteria, with each article consisting of one or more studies that used FL to handle structured clinical/medical data. Of these, 24 utilized data acquired from electronic health records, with clinical predictions and association studies being the most common clinical research tasks that FL was applied to. Only one article exclusively explored the vertical FL setting, while the remaining 33 explored the horizontal FL setting, with only 14 discussing comparisons between single-site (local) and FL (global) analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The existing FL applications on structured medical data lack sufficient evaluations of clinically meaningful benefits, particularly when compared to single-site analyses. Therefore, it is crucial for future FL applications to prioritize clinical motivations and develop designs and methodologies that can effectively support and aid clinical practice and research.

A scoping review of the clinical application of machine learning in data-driven population segmentation analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Data-driven population segmentation is commonly used in clinical settings to separate the heterogeneous population into multiple relatively homogenous groups with similar healthcare features. In recent years, machine learning (ML) based segmentation algorithms have garnered interest for their potential to speed up and improve algorithm development across many phenotypes and healthcare situations. This study evaluates ML-based segmentation with respect to (1) the populations applied, (2) the segmentation details, and (3) the outcome evaluations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were used following the PRISMA-ScR criteria. Peer-reviewed studies in the English language that used data-driven population segmentation analysis on structured data from January 2000 to October 2022 were included. RESULTS: We identified 6077 articles and included 79 for the final analysis. Data-driven population segmentation analysis was employed in various clinical settings. K-means clustering is the most prevalent unsupervised ML paradigm. The most common settings were healthcare institutions. The most common targeted population was the general population. DISCUSSION: Although all the studies did internal validation, only 11 papers (13.9%) did external validation, and 23 papers (29.1%) conducted methods comparison. The existing papers discussed little validating the robustness of ML modeling. CONCLUSION: Existing ML applications on population segmentation need more evaluations regarding giving tailored, efficient integrated healthcare solutions compared to traditional segmentation analysis. Future ML applications in the field should emphasize methods' comparisons and external validation and investigate approaches to evaluate individual consistency using different methods.

The association between vitamin D and BDNF on cognition in older adults in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the association between vitamin D and the cognitive decline of older adults and evaluate whether this association is mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum concentration. METHODS: Cross-sectional study nested in a population-based cohort. Of the 604 participants in the complementary examination of the EpiFloripa Study, 576 older adults (60 years or older) were eligible for the study. The outcome is cognitive decline evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination, the exposure is vitamin D, and BDNF is the mediator. The control variables are age, sex, per capita family income, and educational level. The direct effect of vitamin D and BDNF on cognitive decline and the indirect effect mediated by BDNF was evaluated using path analysis, with the estimation of standardized coefficients. RESULTS: Among the participants, we observed a direct and positive effect of vitamin D on cognitive function (Coef: 0.06; 95%CI: 0.02 to 0.11; p < 0.001) and serum BDNF concentration (Coef: 21.55; 95%CI: 9.92 to 33.17; p = 0.002), i.e., the higher the vitamin D, the higher the cognitive function and serum level of BDNF. CONCLUSION: There was an association between vitamin D on serum BDNF and on cognitive decline in older adults. Moreover, BDNF did not have an effect on cognitive decline, so BDNF was not a mediator of the vitamin D effect on cognitive decline.

Counterfactual approach on the effect of metabolic syndrome on tooth loss: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on tooth loss in adults from a population-based sample. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis based on data from a cohort study (2009 to 2014) with adults from Southern Brazil. MetS (exposure), lack of functional dentition and number of lost teeth (outcomes) were assessed using self-reported, laboratory and clinical data. Possible confounders included sex, age, family income, education level, smoking status, and sugar consumption. The effect of MetS on the outcomes was estimated using conventional logistic or negative binomial regression models. Marginal structural modeling (MSM) with stabilized weights (a counterfactual analytical method) was also used to enhance group comparability and estimate causal effects. RESULTS: A total of 1,283 participants had available information for the outcomes. Individuals with MetS were more likely to experience a lack of functional dentition than those without MetS (odds ratio [OR] from logistic regression, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.9; OR from MSM, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.3 to 4.6). Moreover, the number of teeth lost was 20% higher in participants with MetS compared with those without MetS in conventional analysis (mean ratio [MR], 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3). The MR increased to 1.7 (95% CI, 1.5 to 2.0) when using MSM. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence on the effect of MetS on tooth loss.

A comprehensive program of cognitive stimulation with digital inclusion, physical activity and social interaction can modify BDNF levels and improve cognition in adults over 50: a randomized controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of a comprehensive program of cognitive stimulation with digital inclusion, physical activity and social interaction, called "Oficina da Lembrança" (OL), on the cognitive status and concentration of biomarkers of neuroplasticity, neurodegeneration in adults aged 50 years and over attending a Memory Clinic. METHODS: In this pilot randomized controlled study, 64 patients without dementia aged 45 to 79 years, seen at a University Memory Clinic in Southern Brazil, were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of participation in OL for 12 weeks. Serum biomarkers (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], S100ß, and neuron-specific enolase [NSE]) and cognitive status were analyzed as primary and secondary outcomes. The Wilcoxon test and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were applied. RESULTS: Of the 64 patients invited to participate in the study, 33 (intervention: 17, control: 16) completed the study with all data. Improvement of cognitive status was significant in the intervention group (22.6 to 24.5) but not in the control group (20.1 to 21.1). There was a significant reduction of BDNF in OL participants, but no significant change was observed in the neurodegenerative biomarkers S100ß or NSE. The concentration of BDNF decreased significantly post-OL in the intervention group (-288.1, 95%CI -362.1 to -94.1), even after adjusting for sex, age, and educational level. Cognitive status was significantly improved in OL participants. CONCLUSION: The OL program improved cognitive status, reduced serum BDNF levels, and empowered digitally excluded older adults. There was no effect of this intervention on S100ß or NSE. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has a Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111-1195-2642 and was registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC), number RBR-38X665.

Oral and oropharyngeal cancer mortality in Brazil, 1983-2017: Age-period-cohort analysis.

AIM: To estimate the effect of age, period, and birth cohort on mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil. METHODS: Deaths due to oral and oropharyngeal cancer from 1983 to 2017 were analyzed. The effect of age, period, and cohort was calculated using the Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 2017, 142,634 deaths were recorded from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil, 54% from oropharyngeal cancer. The male sex contributed to 81% of the deaths. The average mortality rate for men was 4.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and for women, it was 0.9 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. There was a strong effect of age on mortality rates from oral and oropharyngeal cancer. The risk increases from 40 years of age in men and 55 years of age in women. An overall period effect was observed. The 2000 period showed the greatest risk when compared to the 1985 period in men. In women, the period of highest risk was 2010. The cohorts born between 1958 and 1962 had a higher risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: The period effect is mainly attributed to mortality from oropharyngeal cancer. Most significant values regarding the effect on the cohort groups were observed in female mortality from oral cancer.

The association between vitamin D and BDNF on cognition in older adults in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the association between vitamin D and the cognitive decline of older adults and evaluate whether this association is mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum concentration. METHODS Cross-sectional study nested in a population-based cohort. Of the 604 participants in the complementary examination of the EpiFloripa Study, 576 older adults (60 years or older) were eligible for the study. The outcome is cognitive decline evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination, the exposure is vitamin D, and BDNF is the mediator. The control variables are age, sex, per capita family income, and educational level. The direct effect of vitamin D and BDNF on cognitive decline and the indirect effect mediated by BDNF was evaluated using path analysis, with the estimation of standardized coefficients. RESULTS Among the participants, we observed a direct and positive effect of vitamin D on cognitive function (Coef: 0.06; 95%CI: 0.02 to 0.11; p < 0.001) and serum BDNF concentration (Coef: 21.55; 95%CI: 9.92 to 33.17; p = 0.002), i.e., the higher the vitamin D, the higher the cognitive function and serum level of BDNF. CONCLUSION There was an association between vitamin D on serum BDNF and on cognitive decline in older adults. Moreover, BDNF did not have an effect on cognitive decline, so BDNF was not a mediator of the vitamin D effect on cognitive decline.

Mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer: age-period-cohort effect, Brazil, 1983-2017.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the effect of age, period, and birth cohort on mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil and its macro-regions. METHODS: Deaths from oral and oropharyngeal cancer from 1983 to 2017 were analyzed. The Poisson regression model was applied, using estimable functions proposed by Holford. RESULTS: From 1983 to 2017, 142,634 deaths from oral and oropharyngeal cancer were registered in Brazil, 81% among men, and the South and Southeast regions had the highest rates. The most significant period effects were observed in male mortality in the Southeast and Central-West regions for the 2003-2007 reference period. In the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions, an increased risk of mortality was observed in the most recent male cohorts. In the North region, the most significant risk identified was for men born during 1973-1977 (RR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.05-2.08); in the Northeast, for men born during 1988-1992 (RR = 2.77; 95%CI 1.66-4.63); and in the Central-West, for women born during 1973-1977 (RR = 2.01; 95%CI 1.19-3.39). In the Southeast and South regions, the most recent cohorts had lower mortality rates. The lowest risk in the Southeast region was observed in the male cohort born during 1978-1982 (RR = 0.53; 95%CI 0.45-0.62) and 1983-1987 in the South region (RR = 0.25; 95%CI 0.12-0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Age had a significant effect on mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in all regions. In the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions, an increase in risk was observed in the most recent cohorts, while in the South and Southeast regions, these cohorts presented a lower risk when compared to the older cohorts.

Socioeconomic inequalities explain the association between source of drinking water and dental caries in primary dentition.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between source of drinking water and dental caries at age 5 and to test whether socioeconomic conditions act as confounding factors in such association. METHODS: The study was carried out in a sub-sample of the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort, which comprised the application of a questionnaire and clinical oral examination. The exposure was source of drinking water, collected through a question to the primary caregiver. The outcome was dental caries in primary dentition, measured through several standardized indicators of the decayed, missing and filled teeth index (dmft), assessing past and present dental caries. Socioeconomic indicators (family income and maternal education) were identified as potential confounding factors. After descriptive analysis, the association between source of water and measures of dental caries was assessed by Regression models. RESULTS: 1,084 children were evaluated and had complete information in all variables (83.2 % of the targeted sample). Dental caries experience was observed in 48.7 % of the children, with a mean of 1.9 decayed, missing or filled teeth. Most children consumed water from public water supply (76.0 %), and a socioeconomic pattern was observed, with children from lower income more likely to drink water from public supply. In crude analysis, children who consumed bottled water had a lower risk of decayed teeth, lower experience of dental caries and less severe disease. No associations were observed after adjustments for socioeconomic conditions. CONCLUSION: Underlying socioeconomic inequalities explained the association between prevalence and severity of dental caries in primary dentition and source of drinking water. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Drinking fluoridated tap water is as effective in dental caries prevention as bottled water with acceptable levels of fluoride, with the advantage of being accessible to all. Oral health prevention and treatment should be implemented as early in life as possible and should take into consideration the family's socioeconomic context.

Mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer: age-period-cohort effect, Brazil, 1983-2017 / Mortalidade por câncer de boca e orofaringe: efeito idade-período-coorte, Brasil, 1983-2017

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Estimate the effect of age, period, and birth cohort on mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil and its macro-regions. METHODS Deaths from oral and oropharyngeal cancer from 1983 to 2017 were analyzed. The Poisson regression model was applied, using estimable functions proposed by Holford. RESULTS From 1983 to 2017, 142,634 deaths from oral and oropharyngeal cancer were registered in Brazil, 81% among men, and the South and Southeast regions had the highest rates. The most significant period effects were observed in male mortality in the Southeast and Central-West regions for the 2003-2007 reference period. In the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions, an increased risk of mortality was observed in the most recent male cohorts. In the North region, the most significant risk identified was for men born during 1973-1977 (RR = 1.47; 95%CI 1.05-2.08); in the Northeast, for men born during 1988-1992 (RR = 2.77; 95%CI 1.66-4.63); and in the Central-West, for women born during 1973-1977 (RR = 2.01; 95%CI 1.19-3.39). In the Southeast and South regions, the most recent cohorts had lower mortality rates. The lowest risk in the Southeast region was observed in the male cohort born during 1978-1982 (RR = 0.53; 95%CI 0.45-0.62) and 1983-1987 in the South region (RR = 0.25; 95%CI 0.12-0.54). CONCLUSIONS Age had a significant effect on mortality from oral and oropharyngeal cancer in all regions. In the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions, an increase in risk was observed in the most recent cohorts, while in the South and Southeast regions, these cohorts presented a lower risk when compared to the older cohorts.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Estimar o efeito da idade, período e coorte de nascimento na mortalidade por câncer de boca e orofaringe no Brasil e suas macrorregiões. MÉTODO Foram analisados os óbitos por câncer de boca e orofaringe de 1983 a 2017. Aplicou-se o modelo de regressão de Poisson, utilizando funções estimáveis propostas por Holford. RESULTADOS No período de 1983 a 2017, foram registrados no Brasil 142.634 óbitos por câncer de boca e orofaringe, 81% entre o sexo masculino, e as regiões Sul e Sudeste apresentaram as taxas mais altas. Os maiores efeitos de período foram observados na mortalidade masculina das regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste para o período de referência 2003-2007. Nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste foi observado aumento do risco de mortalidade nas coortes masculinas mais recentes. Na região Norte o maior risco identificado foi para homens nascidos entre 1973 e 1977 (RR = 1,47; IC95% 1,05-2,08); no Nordeste, para homens nascidos entre 1988 e 1992 (RR = 2,77; IC95% 1,66-4,63); e no Centro-Oeste, para mulheres nascidas entre 1973 e 1977 (RR = 2,01; IC95% 1,19-3,39). Nas regiões Sudeste e Sul, as coortes mais recentes apresentaram taxas de mortalidade mais baixas. O menor risco na região Sudeste foi observado na coorte masculina nascida entre 1978 e 1982 (RR = 0,53; IC95% = 0,45-0,62), e entre 1983 e 1987 na região Sul (RR = 0,25; IC95% 0,12-0,54). CONCLUSÕES A idade teve efeito significativo na mortalidade por câncer de boca e orofaringe em todas as regiões. Nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste, foi observado aumento do risco nas coortes mais recentes, enquanto nas regiões Sul e Sudeste essas coortes apresentaram risco menor quando comparadas às coortes mais antigas.

[Accumulated risk from poverty and tooth loss at 31 years of age: the 1982 live birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil]. / Acúmulo de risco decorrente da pobreza e perda dentária aos 31 anos, coorte de nascidos vivos de 1982, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.

The objective was to estimate the effect of accumulated risk from poverty and tooth loss at 31 years, using longitudinal data from the 1982 live birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The income trajectory variables were built with four time points: birth and 15, 24, and 30 years of age. Potential confounding factors were sex, maternal schooling, maternal skin color, and smoking at 24 years. Potential mediators used the history of dentistry services use and caries based on the Significant Index Caries (SIC). The trajectory variable in the accumulated risk model was created with group-based trajectory modeling. The target outcome was the number of missing teeth at 31 years. Mean number of missing teeth at 31 years was 1.25. In the accumulated risk model after adjusting for confounders and mediators, individuals that were poor at one or two time points showed risk ratio - RR = 1.92 (95%CI: 1.40-2.63), and those with three or four episodes of poverty showed RR = 1.97 (95%CI: 1.24-3.13) for tooth loss. The results highlight the effect of lifetime poverty on tooth loss. The effect was expanded in individuals that were exposed to poverty longer. Public policies aimed at improving income conditions also help reduce tooth loss.

Acúmulo de risco decorrente da pobreza e perda dentária aos 31 anos, coorte de nascidos vivos de 1982, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Accumulated risk from poverty and tooth loss at 31 years of age: the 1982 live birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil / Acumulación de riesgo derivado de la pobreza y pérdida dental a los 31 años: cohorte de nacidos vivos de 1982 en Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

Resumo: O objetivo foi estimar o efeito do acúmulo de risco decorrente da pobreza na perda dentária aos 31 anos. Foram utilizados dados longitudinais da coorte de nascidos vivos de 1982, na cidade de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para a construção das variáveis de trajetória de renda, foram utilizados quatro pontos do tempo: nascimento, 15, 24 e 30 anos. Os fatores de confusão avaliados foram sexo, escolaridade materna, cor da pele da mãe e fumo aos 24 anos. Como potenciais mediadores, foram utilizados a trajetória de serviço odontológico e a cárie dentária baseada no Significant Index Caries (SIC). Para criação da variável de trajetória do modelo de acúmulo de risco, utilizou-se abordagem analítica de group-based trajectory modeling. O desfecho estudado foi o número de dentes perdidos aos 31 anos. A média de dentes perdidos aos 31 anos foi de 1,25 dente. No modelo de acúmulo de risco, após o ajuste para os confusores e mediadores, os indivíduos que estiveram pobres em um ou dois pontos do tempo apresentaram razão de risco - RR = 1,92 (IC95%: 1,40-2,63), e os que apresentaram três ou quatro episódios de pobreza apresentaram RR = 1,97 (IC95%: 1,24-3,13) para a perda dentária. Os resultados evidenciam o efeito do acúmulo de pobreza ao longo da vida na perda dentária. O efeito é ampliado entre os indivíduos que permaneceram mais tempo expostos à pobreza. As políticas públicas que visem a melhorar as condições de renda atuarão também na redução da perda dentária.

Abstract: The objective was to estimate the effect of accumulated risk from poverty and tooth loss at 31 years, using longitudinal data from the 1982 live birth cohort in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The income trajectory variables were built with four time points: birth and 15, 24, and 30 years of age. Potential confounding factors were sex, maternal schooling, maternal skin color, and smoking at 24 years. Potential mediators used the history of dentistry services use and caries based on the Significant Index Caries (SIC). The trajectory variable in the accumulated risk model was created with group-based trajectory modeling. The target outcome was the number of missing teeth at 31 years. Mean number of missing teeth at 31 years was 1.25. In the accumulated risk model after adjusting for confounders and mediators, individuals that were poor at one or two time points showed risk ratio - RR = 1.92 (95%CI: 1.40-2.63), and those with three or four episodes of poverty showed RR = 1.97 (95%CI: 1.24-3.13) for tooth loss. The results highlight the effect of lifetime poverty on tooth loss. The effect was expanded in individuals that were exposed to poverty longer. Public policies aimed at improving income conditions also help reduce tooth loss.

Resumen: El objetivo fue estimar el efecto de la acumulación de riesgo, derivado de la pobreza, en la pérdida dental a los 31 años. Se utilizaron datos longitudinales de la cohorte de nacidos vivos de 1982, en la ciudad de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Para la construcción de las variables de trayectoria de renta se utilizaron cuatro puntos del tiempo: nacimiento, 15, 24 y 30 años. Los factores de confusión evaluados fueron: sexo, escolaridad materna, color de la piel de la madre y consumo de tabaco a los 24 años. Como potenciales mediadores se utilizó la trayectoria de servicios odontológicos y caries dental, basada en el Significant Index Caries (SIC). Para la creación de la variable de trayectoria del modelo de acumulación de riesgo se utilizó el abordaje analítico de group-based trajectory modeling. El resultado estudiado fue el número de dientes perdidos a los 31 años. La media de dientes perdidos a los 31 años fue 1,25 dientes. En el modelo de acumulación de riesgo, tras el ajuste para confusores y mediadores, los individuos que eran pobres en uno o dos puntos del tiempo presentaron razón de riesgo - RR = 1,92 (IC95%: 1,40-2,63) y quienes presentaron tres o cuatro episodios de pobreza presentaron RR = 1,97 (IC95%: 1,24-3,13) respecto a la pérdida dental. Los resultados evidencian el efecto de la acumulación de pobreza a lo largo de la vida en la pérdida dental. El efecto se amplía entre los individuos que permanecieron más tiempo expuestos a la pobreza. Las políticas públicas que tengan por objetivo mejorar las condiciones de renta actuarán también en la reducción de la pérdida dental.

Potential years of life lost due to oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil: 1979 to 2013.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the years of life lost by the Brazilian population due to mouth and pharynx cancer from 1979 to 2013, and analyze the temporal trends in the studied period, according to the country's region, sex and anatomical site. METHODS: The death records were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the data referring to the population, from the censuses of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics of 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010, and from intercensal estimates for the other years. The rates of potential years of life lost were calculated by applying the method suggested by Romeder and McWhinnie, and their trends were calculated using the Prais-Winsten method with first-order autocorrelation. The historical series were smoothed with the centered moving average technique of third order for white noise reduction. RESULTS: In the period from 1979 to 2013 in Brazil, there were a total of 107,506 premature deaths due to mouth and pharynx cancer, which generated a total of 1,589,501 potential years of life lost, the equivalent to a rate of 3.6 per 10,000 inhabitants. Males, whose rate was six times higher than for females, contributed with 85% of the years lost. The trends in the rates of years of life lost showed an annual 0.72% increase for men, 1.13% for women and 1.05% for pharynx cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of potential years of life lost due to mouth and pharynx cancer in the country showed an upward trend within the studied period for both sexes, as well as for pharynx cancer and for the North, Northeast and Midwest regions.

Reasons for direct restoration failure from childhood to adolescence: A birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of direct restorations in posterior teeth in children aged 12, from a birth cohort, and to test the association between the quality of the restorations and individual variables experienced in the life cycle. METHODS: All live-born children in Pelotas, in 2004, were prospectively investigated and a representative sample was assessed for oral conditions at ages 5 and 12. The outcome was the quality of the restoration (satisfactory/unsatisfactory). Independent variables included socioeconomic, behavioral and oral health characteristics at the individual level and the size of cavity and material at the tooth level. Associations were tested using multilevel logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1,000 participants and 249 restorations in the permanent dentition were examined. Most of the restorations were composites (73.5%), while only 6.8% were amalgam. After adjusted analyses, children whose parents received information on how to prevent their child from developing caries before reaching 5 years of age had 91.0% less chance of having an unsatisfactory restoration compared to children whose parents never received information (OR = 0.09; 95% CI 0.01-0.59). Also, the chances of presenting unsatisfactory restorations were 5.3 higher in children at high-risk for untreated dental caries in the permanent dentition, in comparison with children at low risk (OR = 5.32; 95% CI 1.07-26.6). CONCLUSIONS: Low-risk for untreated dental caries and having received information on preventing dental caries, reduced the chance of presenting failed restorations, showing that factors related to individuals play an important role in the quality of restorations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings highlight the role that individual-related factors play in restoration longevity in children, reinforcing the need for a patient-centered approach in restorative dentistry.

The Controlled Direct Effect of Early-Life Socioeconomic Position on Periodontitis in a Birth Cohort.

This study used data from the 1982 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study, Brazil, to estimate the controlled direct effect of early-life socioeconomic position (SEP) on periodontitis at age 31 years, controlling for adulthood income and education, smoking, and dental hygiene. Sex was included as a covariate. Early-life SEP was measured at participant birth based on income, health services payment mode, maternal education, height, and skin color (lower versus middle/higher SEP). Periodontitis was assessed through clinical examination at age 31 years (healthy, mild periodontitis, or moderate-to-severe disease). Adulthood behaviors (smoking, dental hygiene) were the mediators, and adulthood SEP (education and income) represented the exposure-induced mediator-outcome confounders. A regression-based approach was used to assess the controlled direct effect of early-life SEP on periodontitis. Multinomial regression models were used to estimate risk ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. The prevalences of mild and moderate-to-severe periodontitis were 23.0% and 14.3%, respectively (n = 539). Individuals from the lowest early-life SEP had a higher risk of moderate-to-severe periodontitis controlled for mediators and exposure-induced mediator-outcome confounders: risk ratio = 1.85 (95% confidence interval: 1.06, 3.24), E value 3.1. We found that early-life SEP was associated with the development of periodontitis in adulthood that was not mediated by adulthood SEP and behaviors.

Direct effect of common mental disorders on xerostomia in adults estimated by marginal structural models: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the controlled direct effect (CDE) of common mental disorders (CMD) on xerostomia which is not mediated by psychoactive medication intake. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 1720 individuals aged 20-59 years from Florianópolis, Brazil, in 2009. A two-stage cluster sample design was adopted, with a systematic selection of census tracts, followed by a random selection of households. All inhabitants of the selected households belonging to the age group of interest were considered eligible to participate. CMD were assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ > 7). Xerostomia was the outcome assessed by asking: "How often do you feel dry mouth?" with responses "often" and "always" taken as indicating xerostomia. Psychoactive medication intake was set as the mediator. Confounding factors included sex, age, per capita family income, educational attainment and smoking status. Marginal structural models were performed to quantify the CDE of CMD on xerostomia. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation by chained equations, and sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding was carried out. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of xerostomia was 8.8% and 15.3% of the individuals presented with CMD. After adjustment, the prevalence of xerostomia among individuals with CMD was 3.2 times higher than that among individuals without CMD (PR = 3.2 [95% CI: 2.3; 4.5]). The CDE of CMD on xerostomia which is not mediated by the medication intake resulted in a three times greater prevalence of xerostomia (PR = 3.0 95% CI: 2.0; 4.5) among those individuals with CMD. CONCLUSIONS: Common mental disorders is directly and negatively associated with xerostomia. Clinicians should bear in mind the emotional state when investigating the underlying factors and managing patients with xerostomia.

Potential years of life lost due to oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil: 1979 to 2013 / Anos potenciais de vida perdidos por câncer de boca e faringe no Brasil: 1979 a 2013

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the years of life lost by the Brazilian population due to mouth and pharynx cancer from 1979 to 2013, and analyze the temporal trends in the studied period, according to the country's region, sex and anatomical site. METHODS The death records were obtained from the Mortality Information System and the data referring to the population, from the censuses of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics of 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010, and from intercensal estimates for the other years. The rates of potential years of life lost were calculated by applying the method suggested by Romeder and McWhinnie, and their trends were calculated using the Prais-Winsten method with first-order autocorrelation. The historical series were smoothed with the centered moving average technique of third order for white noise reduction. RESULTS In the period from 1979 to 2013 in Brazil, there were a total of 107,506 premature deaths due to mouth and pharynx cancer, which generated a total of 1,589,501 potential years of life lost, the equivalent to a rate of 3.6 per 10,000 inhabitants. Males, whose rate was six times higher than for females, contributed with 85% of the years lost. The trends in the rates of years of life lost showed an annual 0.72% increase for men, 1.13% for women and 1.05% for pharynx cancer. CONCLUSIONS The rate of potential years of life lost due to mouth and pharynx cancer in the country showed an upward trend within the studied period for both sexes, as well as for pharynx cancer and for the North, Northeast and Midwest regions.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Estimar os anos de vida perdidos pela população brasileira devido ao câncer de boca e faringe de 1979 a 2013 e analisar a tendências temporais no período estudado, segundo região do país, sexo e sítio anatômico. MÉTODOS Os registros de óbitos foram obtidos do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade e os dados referentes à população, dos censos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística de 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010 e de estimativas intercensitárias para os demais anos. Foram calculadas as taxas de anos de vida potencialmente perdidos aplicando o método sugerido por Romeder e McWhinnie, e suas tendências foram calculadas usando o método de Prais-Winsten com correção para autocorrelação de primeira ordem. As séries históricas foram alisadas com técnica de média móvel central de ordem 3 para redução de ruído branco. RESULTADOS No período de 1979 a 2013 no Brasil, houve um total de 107.506 mortes prematuras devido ao câncer de boca e faringe, o que gerou um total de 1.589.501 anos potenciais de vida perdidos, equivalendo a uma taxa de 3,6 por 10.000 habitantes. O sexo masculino, com uma taxa seis vezes maior que a do sexo feminino, contribuiu com 85% dos anos perdidos. As tendências das taxas de anos de vida perdidos mostraram aumento anual de 0,72% nos homens, 1,13% nas mulheres e 1,05% para o câncer de faringe. CONCLUSÕES A taxa de anos potenciais de vida perdidos por câncer de boca e faringe no país mostrou tendência de aumento dentro do período estudado em ambos os sexos, assim como para o câncer de faringe e para as regiões Norte, Nordeste e Centro-Oeste.

The role of contextual and individual factors on periodontal disease in Uruguayan adults.

The present study aimed at understanding the relationship between periodontitis and socio-contextual and individual determinants of health. Data from "The First Uruguayan Oral Health Survey, 2011", which included 223 and 455 individuals with 35-44 and 65-74 years old respectively, were used. A stratified, multistage cluster sampling design was adopted (cities with ≥ 20.000 residents). Periodontitis was assessed using the modified Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) (periodontal pocket and CAL ≥ 4 mm). Independent variables included contextual socioeconomic status (SES) measured by proportion of houses with Unsatisfied Basic Needs (UBN) and individual demographic and behavioral factors. Logistic regression multilevel models were generated. Living in contexts with a higher UBN was associated with higher odds for periodontitis in both age groups, even when adjusting for individual level variables (odds ratio [OR] = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.42-1.60 and 1.31, 95%CI = 1.21-1.42, respectively). Being male or heavy smoker increased the odds of periodontitis in this population for both age groups. Social structure impacts periodontal disease by modifying individual socioeconomic situations: in better socioeconomic context, UBN acts increasing the protector role of socioeconomic situation but in a poverty context the role is attenuated. Conclusions for this study are that periodontitis varies across contextual socio-demographic groups being higher in the population with a lower SES, challenging health authorities to integrate oral health into national non-communicable diseases programs.