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Telomere length attrition and chronic periodontitis: an ARIC Study nested case–control study
Author(s) -
Sanders Anne E.,
Divaris Kimon,
Naorungroj Supawadee,
Heiss Gerardo,
Risques Rosa A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/jcpe.12337
Subject(s) - telomere , nested case control study , medicine , attrition , periodontitis , dentistry , periodontal disease , chronic periodontitis , case control study , genetics , biology , dna
Aim This nested case–control study sought to determine whether an accelerated rate of leukocyte telomere length ( LTL ) shortening over 6 years was associated with chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods We sampled cases ( n = 178) with severe chronic periodontitis and controls ( n = 178) with no/mild chronic periodontitis from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Controls were frequency‐matched to cases by study site, age, sex and race. Age ranged from 53 to 73 years. Severe chronic periodontitis was defined using the CDC ‐ AAP case classification. LTL was measured from DNA collected at two time points, 6 years apart, with quantitative polymerase chain reaction relative to a single‐copy control gene. Multiple linear regression evaluated associations between LTL measured at baseline, follow‐up and change scores with severe chronic periodontitis, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Cases had shorter LTL than controls at baseline ( p = 0.03) and follow‐up ( p = 0.04) after adjusting for confounding. Overall there was a net reduction in LTL over time ( p = 0.02). The rate of LTL did not differ between cases and controls ( p = 0.80). Conclusions Leukocyte telomere length shortening occurred at the same rate among adults with and without severe chronic periodontitis. This suggests that LTL shortening may have occurred earlier in the life course.