Periodontitis is associated with increased liver fibrosis in a population‐based cohort of US adults. Issue 3 (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moon, Andrew M.; Mason, Matthew R.; Galanko, Joseph A.; Barritt, A. Sidney; Bajaj, Jasmohan S.
• Is Part Of: GastroHep. Volume 3:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 179
• Page End: 184
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Hepatology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1002/ygh2.452
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2689-3711

Abstract

Summary: Background: The burden of chronic liver disease is rising in the US. Periodontitis may be a modifiable risk factor for chronic liver disease but there are limited data evaluating links between periodontitis and liver fibrosis. We aimed to evaluate the association between periodontitis and liver fibrosis, as assessed by the fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) score. Methods: We used data from NHANES 2009‐2014 to assess the association between periodontitis and FIB‐4 score. We categorised periodontitis as mild/moderate and severe based on definitions from the CDC/AAP. We created unadjusted and adjusted proportional odds models to assess the likelihood of having intermediate (FIB‐4 1.30‐2.67) or high risk (FIB‐4 >2.67) of fibrosis compared to the reference group of low risk of fibrosis (FIB‐4 <1.30). Results: Our cohort included 10 710 participants from the NHANES study from 2009 to 2014. Elevated liver fibrosis (FIB‐4 >2.67) was demonstrated among 1% of participants with no periodontitis compared to 4% of participants with mild/moderate periodontitis and 6% of those with severe periodontitis ( P < 0.001 for both). In the multivariable model, compared to those with no periodontitis, there was a significantly greater odds of higher FIB‐4 category in individuals with mild/moderate periodontitis (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03‐1.51) and severe periodontitis (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.13‐2.04). Conclusion: In this population‐based US cohort, the presence of periodontitis was independently associated with increased liver fibrosis, as measured by FIB‐4 scores. This suggests that routine dental screening for periodontitis may be particularly important for patients with chronic liver disease.