The Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Periodontal Disease

Date

2020-08

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Abstract

Periodontal disease is becoming an increasingly pervasive public health concern for the United States population. Over 64.7 million American adults have some form of periodontal disease, and an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Current literature has defined the link between both diseases, but the long-term prognosis and links to other systemic diseases remain to be investigated. This study aimed to find an association between periodontal disease and obstructive sleep apnea, and if found, whether gender and race influences the relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) standardized questions regarding oral health and sleep disorders. The sample consisted of 192 participants aged 17 and older. A Chi-square test of independence and two Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests of independence were used to test the hypotheses. No significant association was found between periodontal disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Neither gender nor racial/ethnicity were found to influence the relationship between periodontal disease and obstructive sleep apnea. Results of these findings have public health implications for clinical practice and program implementation geared toward improving oral health.

Description

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Public Health

Keywords

Public Health

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DOI