Osteoporosis and periodontitis in older subjects participating in the Swedish National Survey on Aging and Care (SNAC-Blekinge)

Abstract

Objective. We assessed the relationships between (I) ultrasonography calcaneus T-scores (PIXI) and mandibular cortex characteristics on oral panoramic radiographs in older subjects; and (II) osteoporosis and periodontitis. Material and methods. We examined 778 subjects (53% women) aged 59–96 years. Periodontitis was defined by alveolar bone loss assessed from panoramic radiographs. Results. PIXI calcaneus T-values ≤–2.5 (osteoporosis) were found in 16.3% of women and in 8.1% of men. PIXI calcaneus T-values <–1.6 (osteoporosis, adjusted) were found in 34.2% of women and in 21.4% of men. The age of the subjects and PIXI T-values were significantly correlated in women (Pearson's r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and men (Pearson's r = 0.19, P < 0.001). Periodontitis was found in 18.7% of subjects defined by alveolar bone level ≥5 mm. Subjects with osteoporosis defined by adjusted PIXI T-values had fewer remaining teeth [mean difference 4.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) –1.1 to –6.5, P < 0.001]. The crude odds ratio (OR) of an association between the panoramic assessment of mandibular cortex erosions as a sign of osteoporosis and the adjusted T-value (T-value cut-off <–1.6) was 4.8 (95% CI 3.1–7.2, P < 0.001; Pearson χ² = 60.1, P < 0.001). A significant OR between osteoporosis and periodontitis was only found in women for the T-value cut-off ≤–2.5 (crude OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–3.3, P < 0.03). Conclusions. An association between osteoporosis and periodontitis was only confirmed in women. The likelihood that the mandibular cortex index agrees with adjusted PIXI T-values is significant.

Key Words::

• Calcaneus PIXI
• osteoporosis
• panoramic radiography
• periodontitis

Acknowledgements

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in Sweden and the participating county councils, municipalities and university departments supported the Swedish National study on Aging and Care (SNAC) (www.snac.org). We are grateful to the participants, and the participating counties and municipalities. None of the authors have a conflict of interest in relation to any product or the funding agency.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.