The relationship between serum lipids and periodontitis in elderly non-smokers.

BACKGROUND

There are common risk factors for periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease in elderly patients. Some studies reported that a low total cholesterol (TC) serum level is associated with a higher level of death in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum lipids and periodontal disease in non-smoking elderly patients.

METHODS

Two hundred thirty-four non-smokers (63 males and 171 females) participated in this study. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum lipids and periodontitis and between serum lipids and inflammatory factors. The percentage of sites with probing depth (PD) > or =4 mm, clinical attachment level (CAL) > or =4 mm, and bleeding on probing (BOP) were used as dependent variables. TC, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), gender, and the number of teeth present were included in the model as independent variables in the first analysis. TC, HDL-C, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were used as dependent variables. Albumin, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, and C-reactive protein were used as independent variables in the second analysis.

RESULTS

According to the results of the multiple linear regression analysis, TC was associated with the percentage of sites with PD > or =4 mm (P <0.01; beta = -0.19), CAL > or =4 mm (P <0.01; beta = -0.20), and BOP (P = 0.03; beta = -0.16). HDL-C and LDL-C have a significant association with inflammatory markers and inorganic phosphorus and calcium, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Higher TC is associated with a lower prevalence of periodontitis in non-smoking elderly patients.