Relationship between periodontal status and blood count and anemia in adults: Based on the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Objectives: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease fundamentally initiated by chronic bacterial infection. Just as the periodontal tissues mount an immune inflammatory response to bacteria and their products, systemic challenges owing to these inflammatory agents also induce a major vascular response. It is proposed that periodontitis also needs to be considered as a chronic disease that may decrease erythrocyte count and consequently lower hemoglobin concentration (Hb%). Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the correlation between anemia and blood cell count according to periodontal state. Methods: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) were used to analyze the prevalence of anemia and blood cell counts according to the periodontal status. Complex logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of anemia with periodontal status. The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression using SPSS, and 95% confidence intervals were computed. Results: A significant difference was observed for gingivitis (odds ratio [OR], 1.436 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-1.924]) but not for periodontitis (OR, 1.353 (95% CI, 0.947-1.934). Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence that gingivitis has systemic effects and may cause anemia. However, periodontitis was not significantly associated with anemia. Further, there was no significant difference in periodontal status after adjustment for age, gender, and other factors.

The Development of the Postpartum Depression Self-Management Mobile Application “Happy Mother”

“…Patients with depression tend to fear being branded a psychiatric patient and avoid visiting medical facilities 9,10 . Reports indicate that the rate of using mental health services in Korea is much lower than that of other developed nations 11 . In particular, even when depression is suspected after childbirth, mothers have low rates of using medical facilities due to difficulties leaving their homes while caring for newborns and problems with taking medication while breastfeeding 5,6 …”