Self‐report poor oral health and chronic diseases: the Hong Kong FAMILY project

Objective To assess the association between self‐reported oral health ( SROH ) and general health, this study examined the cross‐sectional associations between SROH and nine chronic health conditions, namely cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, nervous system disease, eye/nose/throat disease, stomach/intestinal disease, and musculoskeletal disease in Hong Kong. Methods This study included 41 641 participants recruited in the FAMILY Project cohort study during March 2009–March 2011. SROH was measured on a 5‐point Likert scale. Multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of dichotomized SROH (0: very good/good/average, 1: bad/very bad) on nine chronic health conditions, adjusted for age, sex, education, personal income, smoking and drinking habits, Body mass index ( BMI ), and blood pressures. Results All the nine chronic health conditions investigated were associated with SROH . SROH showed the strongest cross‐sectional association with nervous system disease (odds ratio = 3.30, P  <   0.001), while the odds ratio with other significant chronic health conditions ranged from 1.13 (high cholesterol, P  =   0.033)–1.73 (stomach/intestinal disease, P  <   0.001). Conclusions Poor SROH is associated with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, nervous system disease, eye/nose/throat disease, stomach/intestinal disease, and musculoskeletal disease.