Five-year change of periodontal diseases in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)

Aim: To assess the extent of remission and progression of periodontal diseases among adults in a Northeast German Region. Materials and Methods: The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) is a population- based cohort study with baseline examinations conducted in 1997-2001 and 5-year-follow-up in 2002-2006. The study comprised 2558 subjects aged 20-81 years. Periodontal status was assessed by probing depth (PD) and attachment level (AL), measured at four surfaces per tooth, half-mouth. An event was defined as AL progression or remission of >= 3 mm on >= 2 sites. Results: Average change in mean AL (mean PD) was 0.10 mm (-0.05 mm) during follow-up, equalling 0.02 mm/ year (-0.01 mm/ year). Adjusted for gender and follow-up time, change in mean AL was significantly higher in 20-29-and 60-69year- old patients compared with 50-59-year-old patients (p < 0.05). 6.5 (7.5) events of progression (remission) in AL per 100 person-years were observed. In multivariate models, risk factors for progression comprised current smoking, middle or low education, being single or divorced and diabetes (p < 0.05). Enhanced progressive attachment loss seen in 20-29-and 60-81-year-old patients was explained through unfavourable risk factors distributions. Conclusions: Periodontal progression was moderate. Periodontal prophylaxis and motivation to reduce risk factors should especially be addressed to patients having unfavourable risk factor distributions.