The association between poor dental health and depression: findings from a large-scale, population-based study (the NHANES study)

Adrienne O'Neil; Michael Berk; Kamalesh Venugopal; Sung-Wan Kim; Lana J Williams; Felice N Jacka

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.01.009

The association between poor dental health and depression: findings from a large-scale, population-based study (the NHANES study)

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2014 May-Jun;36(3):266-70. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.01.009. Epub 2014 Jan 31.

Authors

Adrienne O'Neil¹, Michael Berk², Kamalesh Venugopal³, Sung-Wan Kim⁴, Lana J Williams⁵, Felice N Jacka⁵

Affiliations

¹ IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: AONEIL@barwonhealth.org.au.
² IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Parkville, Australia; Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Parkville, Australia; Mental Health Research Institute, Parkville, Australia.
³ IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
⁵ IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Parkville, Australia.

PMID: 24636212
DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.01.009

Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship of poor dental health and depression, controlling for markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) and adiposity (body mass index; BMI).

Method: Data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2005-2008) were utilized (n=10214). Dental health was assessed using the Oral Health Questionnaire (OHQ). Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), where cases were identified using a cut off score of 10 or above. Logistic regression was applied to measure magnitude of associations, controlling for a range of covariates including CRP and BMI.

Results: After adjustment for covariates, a significant dose-response relationship between number of oral health conditions and likelihood of PHQ-9 defined depression was observed. Compared with individuals without an oral health condition, adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for depression in those with two, four and six conditions were 1.60 (1.08-2.38), 2.13 (1.46-3.11) and 3.94 (2.72-5.72), respectively. Level of CRP and being underweight or obese were associated with being depressed.

Conclusions: A positive association exists between poor dental health and depression that is independent of CRP and BMI.

Keywords: C-Reactive Protein (CRP); Dental disease; Dental health; Depression; Inflammation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Body Mass Index
C-Reactive Protein / analysis
Comorbidity
Dental Health Surveys / statistics & numerical data
Depression / epidemiology*
Female
Humans
Inflammation / blood
Inflammation / epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys / statistics & numerical data
Oral Health / statistics & numerical data*
Stomatognathic Diseases / epidemiology*
United States / epidemiology
Young Adult

Substances

C-Reactive Protein