Relationship between serum uric acid levels and periodontitis-A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Oral health research
• Metabolic disease markers

Background:

• The relationship between serum uric acid (sUA) and periodontitis is not fully understood.
• Periodontitis is a common oral inflammatory condition with systemic health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum uric acid levels and moderate/severe periodontitis in a US adult population.
• To explore potential variations in this association based on demographic factors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 3398 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014.
• Multivariate logistic regression models were employed, adjusting for numerous demographic, lifestyle, and health-related covariates.
• Serum uric acid (sUA) was the independent variable, and periodontitis was the dependent variable.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between higher sUA levels and moderate/severe periodontitis (OR = 1.10, 95%CI: (1.03, 1.16)).
• The association appeared to vary by race/ethnicity and gender.
• A U-shaped association between sUA levels and periodontitis prevalence was observed in women and non-Hispanic Black individuals.

Conclusions:

• Serum uric acid levels are associated with moderate to severe periodontitis.
• The relationship between sUA and periodontitis may follow a U-shaped curve in specific demographic groups.
• sUA may play a role in the global burden of periodontal disease, warranting further investigation as a potential risk indicator.