AIM: To investigate whether there was an association between periodontitis and air flow limitation in older Swedish individuals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study individuals were randomly selected from the Swedish civil registration database representing the aging population in Karlskrona, Sweden. Clinical and radiographic examinations were performed, alongside which participants completed questionnaires gathering information on their medical history, social circumstances, demographic background and tobacco use. A physical examination assessed anthropometric measures. Standard spirometry was performed to identify subjects with air flow limitation. Periodontitis was defined based on radiographic periodontal bone loss. Analysis included multiple logistic regression with adjustment for various confounders.

RESULTS: 826 Caucasian dentate subjects were included in the analysis. The median age of participants was 73.2 (IQR 66-81) years, and 443 (54.6%) subjects were female. 86 (10.4%) individuals presented with air flow limitation. The proportion of participants presenting with periodontitis in the air flow limitation group was 65.1% compared to 41.5% with normal respiratory function (p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that periodontitis was independently associated with air flow limitation with an odds ratio of 2.31 (95% CI 1.27-4.22) p<0.01.

CONCLUSION: In this group of older dentate individuals, periodontitis was significantly associated with airflow limitation independent of other known risk factors.