Longitudinal study of the association between smoking as a periodontitis risk and salivary biomarkers related to periodontitis

Background: Insufficient data exist regarding the long-term influence of lifestyle factors including smoking on periodontal health. The objective of this study was to examine the prospective association between smoking and periodontal disease progression and the effects of smoking on salivary biomarkers related to periodontitis.Methods: Probing depth (PD) was measured at health checkups of workers in 1999 and 2003; additionally, lifestyle information was obtained through a questionnaire. In 2003, 219 of 256 (86%) workers examined at baseline completed PD measurements; saliva samples were also collected. Change in PD was used for assessment of periodontitis progression when three or more sites displayed an increase of ≥2 mm over 4 years. Salivary biomarker levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme assay. Statistical methods included bivariate and multivariate regression analyses.Results: In the multiple logistic model, in which lifestyle-related factors served as independent ...