OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of periodontitis among individuals with diabetes who use the public health system in the city of Belo Horizonte-Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the association of this condition with socioeconomic, behavioral and clinical variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a calculated sample of 300 individuals with diabetes. Periodontitis was defined as clinical attachment loss (CAL) > 3 mm in two or more non-adjacent teeth or those that exhibited CAL > 5 mm in 30.0% of teeth. All subjects were over 30 years of age and underwent a periodontal examination. Socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics as well as medical history and dental history were obtained from a structured interview. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Among the individuals with diabetes, 6.7% exhibited good periodontal health, 68.0% exhibited gingivitis and 25.3% exhibited periodontitis. The following variables were associated with periodontitis after adjustment: male (PR 1.67 95% CI 1.12, 2.49), individuals with diabetes for more than eight years (PR 1.63 95% CI 1.63, 2.38), smokers (PR 1.71 95% CI 1.10, 2.65); individuals with more than 12 missing teeth (PR 2.67 95% CI 1.73, 4.15) CONCLUSIONS: Multiple determinants are associated with the prevalence of periodontitis among patients with diabetes.
Diabetes; Epidemiology; Dental health services; Periodontitis
