The Association between dental caries based on the DMFT index and stroke in the Azar cohort population

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the increasing prevalence of stroke and the inabilities caused among the patients and the probability of side effects as a result of taking medications leading dental caries, this study aimed to determine the association between stroke and dental caries according to the DMFT index among the Azar cohort population. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the data from the Azar Cohort Study (ACS) center. The data of 46 patients with stroke -without full dentures- and a control group of 91 participants –matched in age and sex- were included in this study. The data of patients with stroke, personal habits (tooth brushing frequency, smoking and, alcohol intake), demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and the data related to dental caries were extracted from the Azar Cohort Databank. Assuming negative binomial distribution, Generalized linear model analysis with LOG-LINK function was used to analyze the association between strokes and dental caries. Results: In this study, 46.7 percent of participants were male (64 people) and 53.3 percent were female (73 people). Among male participants 37.5 percent had stroke and among female participants 30.1 percent had stroke. Fifty-four percent of participants were 55 years old or older. In this study, the mean (SD) of the DMFT index was 15.40±7.64. The mean (SD) of the DMFT index in the group with stroke was 19.23±7.19and for the control group was 13.47±7.15 and the difference was significant in the mean analysis. Among participants with stroke, 28.3 percent didn’t take any medications or the medications had no effect on salivation flow rate; while 71.7 percent of participants used medications that reduced saliva secretion. The multiple regression analysis showed that there was no significant association between stroke and dental caries. Also, the results couldn’t show any significant association between sex, age, and educational level, socioeconomic status, smoking, and taking medications with dental caries according to the DMFT index. Conclusion: In the present study, despite the significant difference in the mean of dental caries in people with stroke and the control group, there was no significant association between stroke and dental caries in the regression analysis. Also, in the participants with stroke, people who used tobacco had significantly more tooth decay. Since smoking is one of the risk factors for both diseases, efforts to stop smoking at the community level by considering the "common risk factor approach" and promoting people's lifestyles can lead to a decrease in the burden of both diseases. The results of this study indicate more attention to the "common risk factor approach" in diseases control.