Takeaway
- Chronic gingivitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of subsequent depression.
Why this matters
- Although there is evidence regarding the negative impact of depression on oral health, very little is known about the reverse association.
Study design
- The study included patients (age, ≥14 years) who had received an initial diagnosis of chronic gingivitis across 256 UK general practices (2000-2016).
- 6544 patients with chronic gingivitis were matched (1:1) to individuals without chronic gingivitis.
- Funding: None disclosed.
Key results
- After 10 years of follow-up, 16.3% of patients with chronic gingivitis and 8.8% of those without were diagnosed with depression (log-rank P<.001).
- Chronic gingivitis was positively and significantly associated with an increased risk of depression (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.58-2.08; P<.001).
- This association remained significant in both men (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.55-2.48; P<.001) and women (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.47-2.06; P<.001).
- The strength of the association varied across different age groups:
- 14-20 years (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07-1.94; P=.016);
- 36-50 years (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.52-2.75; P<.001); and
- 51-65 years (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.18-2.71; P=.006).
- The association between chronic gingivitis and depression was not statistically significant in patients aged >65 years (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 0.91-2.18; P=.122).
Limitations
- Being a dental condition, chronic gingivitis may have been underdiagnosed by general practitioners.
This clinical summary originally appeared on Univadis, part of the Medscape Professional Network.
