Dental Pocket and Type 2 Diabetes among Elderly People Aged 88 in Japan

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between periodontal pocket depth and type 2 diabetes in individuals aged 88. We examined the relationship between periodontal pockets and type 2 diabetes in 590 older adults aged 88 years in Japan.

METHOD: The subjects of this study were 664 individuals who underwent a dental check-ups in Matsudo city for individuals aged 88 years. The periodontal pocket recorded by trained dentists was categorized as healthy and mildly equated pocket <5 mm. We performed univariate and multivariate binomial logistic regression analyses to examine the association of the type of dental pocket and type 2 diabetes. Unadjusted and covariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95％confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS: Valid responses without missing data from 590 respondents were used in the analyses. The multivariate analysis indicated a significant association between deep periodontal pockets and type 2 diabetes (OR: 2.02, 95%CI: 1.13-3.59).

CONCLUSION: This survey indicated the possibility that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was high among older adults aged 88 years with deep periodontal pockets. A synergistic improvement effect can be expected from the health management for older adults in later stages, which includes glycemic control and oral health management. The study recommends that proper dental health check-up and maintenance of good oral health are important for preventing type 2 diabetes even in individuals aged 88.