Periodontitis and perceived risk for periodontitis in elders with evidence of depression

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

A history of depression was associated with a number of diseases and with tooth loss, but not with current periodontitis.

Main

Persson GR, Persson RE et al. J Clin Periodontol 2003; 30: 691–696

There is evidence that periodontitis and depression may be associated in older people. In this study, 701 subjects aged 60–75 yrs in Seattle responded to questionnaires and were periodontally examined. Periodontitis was diagnosed in 49%, 55% had never smoked and 22% currently smoked. A history of depression was reported by 20%; but evidence of clinical depression was given only by 10%.

Subjects reporting depression had significantly more strokes, myocardial infarcts, hypertension, osteoarthritis, chronic pain and osteoporosis than subjects without this history, but the 2 groups had similar experience of periodontitis. Tooth loss, however, was 30% greater in the depressed group, which might reflect periodontitis during a past bout of depression.