High cholesterol levels can lead to atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries) and several dangerous conditions in the cardiovascular system including both cardiovascular disease and stroke. The prevalence of diseases associated with high cholesterol in Americans has resulted in a heavy economic burden that is only expected to increase. The management and prevention of high cholesterol are typically achieved through carefully moderated behavioral choices related to diet and exercise. However, the association found between the treatment of gum disease and the prevalence of high cholesterol in several studies initiates the discussion of whether the management of gum diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis could serve as another means of managing cholesterol levels. Secondary data on 4199 non-institutionalized American adults from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was analyzed. 38.32% of the sample group had a total cholesterol level that was considered to be high (>= 200 mg/dL). Of those participants with a history of gum treatment, 38.50% had a high total cholesterol level. A chi-squared test for significance was performed to assess whether an association existed between the self-reported treatment of gum disease and cholesterol status. No statistically significant relationship was found between gum disease treatment and cholesterol levels (p=0.8894). These results are inconsistent with the relationships observed in other studies. However, this discrepancy might be due to methodological differences, our inability to consider sampling parameters, and missing data given the scope of the undergraduate class. Additionally, the studies that found an association included both treatment for gum disease and patient education. Due to the secondary nature of this study, assessing the potential effect of patient education relating to gum disease was not possible. Further study should be completed on a similar population to determine whether additional education in combination with gum treatment is associated with high cholesterol levels.
Author: Deirdre Sperry
Faculty Advisor: Saruna Ghimire, Sociology and Gerontology
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