Association of lipid profile and reported edentulism in the elder population: data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: Relationship between lipid profile and periodontitis has been reported. However, the association between lipid parameters and edentulism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between lipid profile and reported edentulism in the elder population using a national cohort.

Methods: A total of 3 100 participants aged 65 or above were enrolled in 2011 from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which was a national population-based survey. We used adjusted logistics models to investigate the relationship between lipid profile and reported edentulism before and after propensity score matching.

Results: The mean (SD) age was 71.96 (5.63) years, and 1 581 (51.0%) were men. There were 254 (8.2%) individuals reporting edentulism, and the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly higher in the reported edentulism group, compared with the non-edentulism (122.48 vs. 116.91 mg/dl, P = 0.015). In the multivariable model, LDL-C was significantly associated with a higher odds of reported edentulism (adjusted OR [95% CI], 1.004 [1.001-1.008]). In the matched population, LDL-C, non high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, remnant cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides were positively associated with reported edentulism, while HDL-C was negatively associated.

Conclusions: Lipid profiles are probably associated with edentulism, indicating the interaction between oral health and metabolic status in the elder population.