Periodontitis and Chronic Conditions in Older Adults: A Scoping Review and Evidence Map of Systematic Reviews.

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis is a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition that frequently co-occurs with systemic chronic diseases. Although older adults experience a high burden of both periodontitis and chronic conditions, the extent to which age-specific evidence has been synthesised remains unclear.

Objectives: To map and synthesise existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining associations between periodontitis and chronic conditions relevant to older adults and to identify evidence gaps related to age-specific analyses.

Method: A scoping review and evidence gap map were conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute guidance and the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Seven electronic databases were searched, published between 2010 and 2024. Reviews examining associations between periodontitis and chronic conditions prevalent in older adults were included. Age focus and age-stratified analyses were extracted and mapped.

Results: Twenty-four studies were included. Across the studies included, periodontitis was generally reported to be associated with chronic conditions. Evidence specific to older adults was limited and mainly concentrated on cognitive impairment and dementia. Most systematic reviews included pooled general adult data without age stratification. Age-specific synthesis was largely absent for several chronic conditions and heterogeneity in disease definitions and sensitivity to confounding was common.

Conclusion: Despite evidence suggesting associations between periodontitis and chronic conditions, age-specific evidence particularly for older adults remains limited.