Age and female gender associated with periodontal disease in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Results from self-reported questionnaires from the IORRA cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of, and the factors associated with, periodontal disease in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Patients with RA enrolled in the Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA) cohort completed three self-administered questionnaires including questions about recent gingival bleeding during toothbrushing, a recent diagnosis of periodontitis by a dentist, and any history of periodontitis. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate associations with clinical variables for each questionnaire.

Results: Among 5600 Japanese patients with RA, 31.0%, 18.3%, and 20.4% of patients self-reported recent gingival bleeding during toothbrushing, a recent diagnosis of periodontitis by a dentist, and a history of periodontitis, respectively. In multivariate models, younger age, fracture history, Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (JHAQ-DI), and prednisolone dosage were significantly (p < .05) associated with recent gingival bleeding during toothbrushing. Older age, female gender, and ever-smoker status were significantly correlated with a recent diagnosis of periodontitis.

Conclusion: Many Japanese patients with RA experience gingival bleeding during toothbrushing and are diagnosed with periodontitis. Age, female gender, ever-smoker status, fracture history, JHAQ-DI, and prednisolone dosage appeared to be associated with periodontal disease in Japanese patients with RA.

Keywords:

• Gingival bleeding
• Japanese
• oral hygiene
• periodontitis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Acknowledgements

We thank all of the members of the Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University for the successful management of the IORRA study cohort.

Conflict of interest

TF has served on speaker bureaus for the Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and UCB Japan Co., Ltd. EI has served on speaker bureaus for Merck Serono Co., Ltd. ET has served on speaker bureaus for AbbVie, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Nippon Kayaku, Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and UCB Japan Co., Ltd. AT has served on speakers’ bureaus for Pfizer Japan Inc. KI has served on speakers’ bureaus for AbbVie, Astellas Pharma Inc., Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai Co., Ltd., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. HY has received a research grant from AbbVie, Astellas Pharma Inc., Ayumi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and UCB Japan Co., Ltd., and has served on speaker bureaus for Astellas Pharma Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Eisai Co., Ltd., Hoffmann-La Roche, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Nippon-Kayaku, Pfizer Japan Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and YL Biologics Ltd. These sponsors were not involved in the study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript, and/or the decision to submit for publication.