Mona Alhassan, BDS, DMSc: No financial relationships to disclose
Abstract: OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the associations of self-reported inflammatory diseases (diabetes, coronary heart diseases, and arthritis) and cancer with clinically assessed dental caries among adults aged 30 years old or older in the USA, and to evaluate the role of C-reactive Protein (CRP) (a biomarker of inflammation) in this relationship. METHODS Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Our sample consisted of participants who had dental examination, reported their general health status, and had a C-reactive protein (CRP) lab test. We conducted descriptive analyses and a multivariate poisson regression controlling for potential confounding factors, such as (age, sex, race, income, education, and BMI). RESULTS Among US adults aged ≥30 years, the mean DMFT was higher in people who reported being diagnosed with arthritis (MR=1.06; CI 1.02 to 1.11) and cancer (MR=1.06; CI 1.02 to 1.10) than in participants who report not having these diseases. The mean DMFT was higher in people with elevated CRP (MR=1.06; CI 1.01 to 1.10) compared with individuals with average CRP lab results. There was a positive association between DMFT and elevated CRP levels among those who reported having diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, or cancer (MR=1.33; CI 1.33 to 1.44). CONCLUSIONS CRP, a biomarker that rises in response to inflammation, was associated with increased DMFT in individuals diagnosed with arthritis, cancer, or in those with elevated CRP levels. Further studies should explore the mechanism of the relationship between inflammatory diseases, CRP level, and dental caries.
