The prevalence of periodontal-related changes in adolescents with asthma: Results of the third annual national health and nutrition examination survey

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between asthma and periodontal disease in adolescents using oral examination and health interview data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994. Methods: The study population comprised 1, 596 adolescents 13 to 17 years of age: 253 (16%) asthmatics and 1, 358 (84%) nonasthmatic controls who were examined for bleeding on probing (BOP), subgingival calculus (SBC), supragingival calculus (SPC), probing depth greater than or equal to 3 mm (PD), and loss of periodontal attachment greater than or equal to 2 mm (LPA). The authors fitted separate multivariate GEE Poisson regression models adjusting for parents' income, gender, race, exposure to potentially xerogenic drugs (antihistamines, corticosteroids, and inhalers), tobacco exposure, and dental examination within the past year. Results: None of the periodontal measures was associated with asthma severity or with the use of antiasthmatic drugs. However, several covariates had statistically significant odds ratios (P