Chronic Periodontitis as a Risk Factor for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Periodontology
• Urology
• Public Health

Background:

• The relationship between periodontitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains debated.
• Understanding this association is crucial for public health initiatives and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between recurrent periodontitis episodes and the incidence of BPH in an adult Korean male population.
• To explore potential socioeconomic and comorbidity-related variations in this association.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale retrospective study using Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data.
• Analysis of 79,497 matched cases and controls.
• Conditional logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for confounders.

Main Results:

• Participants with periodontitis (≥1 episode within 1 year) showed significantly higher odds of BPH (OR = 1.34).
• The association was more pronounced in low-income individuals (OR = 1.43).
• Increased frequency of periodontitis and higher comorbidity scores (CCI ≥ 2) correlated with progressively higher BPH odds.

Conclusions:

• Recurrent periodontitis is associated with an increased occurrence of BPH.
• Low income and multiple comorbidities amplify this risk.
• Clinicians should consider periodontitis history when assessing BPH risk.