Investigating the Influence of Periodontal Disease on the Association Between Complex Multimorbidity and Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether periodontal disease (PD) moderates the association between complex multimorbidity (MM) and fair/poor general health in a US representative sample of older individuals.

Materials and methods: This study identified 937 participants who were at least 60 years of age from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between complex MM (including chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes) and self-reported fair/poor general health. Subsequently, we specified interactions between complex MM and PD to determine whether PD moderates the effect of complex MM on fair/poor general health.

Results: Nineteen percent of participants reported fair/poor general health. Complex MM was associated with 2.2 times greater odds of self-reported fair/poor health. However, PD was neither independently associated with fair/poor health nor an effect modifier for the association between complex MM and fair/poor general health. Age, white race, those with at least a high-school education level, a family income-to-poverty ratio of at least 2, former smoking status, and being married were significantly associated with fair/poor general health.

Conclusion: Complex MM, but not PD, was associated with greater odds to report fair/poor general health, and PD did not moderate the association between complex MM and fair/poor general health. People with complex MM are more likely to have worse general health; however, PD did not strengthen this association. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether treatment for PD for people vulnerable to the development of complex MM has a positive effect on their general health.