Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
J Clin Periodontol. 2011 Jun;38(6):547-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2011.01713.x. Epub 2011 Mar 1.
The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between social network, social support and periodontal disease among older American adults and to test whether social network and support mediates socioeconomic inequality in periodontal disease.
Data pertaining to participants aged 60 years and over from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2004 were used. Periodontal disease variables were extent loss of periodontal attachment ≥3 mm and moderate periodontitis. Social support and networks were indicated by the need for emotional support, number of close friends and marital status.
Widowed and those with lowest number of friends had higher rates of the extent of loss of periodontal attachment (1.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.58) and (1.22, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.45), respectively. Marital status and number of friends were not significantly associated with moderate periodontitis after adjusting for behavioural factors. The need for more emotional support was not related to periodontal disease in this analysis. Social networks and support had no impact on socioeconomic inequality in periodontal disease.
Certain aspects of social network, namely being widowed and having fewer friends, were linked to the extent of loss of periodontal attachment but not to the definition of moderate periodontitis, in older adults.
本研究旨在探讨美国老年人的社会网络、社会支持与牙周病之间的关系，并检验社会网络和支持是否在牙周病方面存在社会经济不平等的中介作用。
本研究使用了 2001-2004 年全国健康与营养调查中年龄在 60 岁及以上的参与者的数据。牙周病变量为牙周附着丧失≥3mm 和中度牙周炎。社会支持和网络由情感支持需求、亲密朋友数量和婚姻状况来表示。
丧偶者和朋友最少的人牙周附着丧失程度较高（1.27，95%CI：1.03，1.58）和（1.22，95%CI：1.03，1.45）。调整行为因素后，婚姻状况和朋友数量与中度牙周炎无显著相关性。在这项分析中，更多情感支持的需求与牙周病无关。社会网络和支持对牙周病的社会经济不平等没有影响。
在老年人中，社会网络的某些方面，即丧偶和朋友较少，与牙周附着丧失程度有关，但与中度牙周炎的定义无关。
