Association between groups of immunoglobulin G antibodies against periodontal microorganisms and diabetes-related mortality.

Background: Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against periodontal microorganisms can be markers of periodontal infection because their levels rise following infection and remain elevated several years later.

Methods: We evaluated the relationship between groups of IgG antibodies against 19 periodontal microorganisms and diabetes-related mortality over 27 years among participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988 to 1992) aged ≥40 years at the time of examination (N = 8,153).

Results: Individuals in the highest versus lowest antibody tertiles were at 86% higher risk of dying due to diabetes-related causes in the Red-Green antibody cluster (T.