Relationship between oral health and glaucoma traits in the United Kingdom

Rachel H. Lee, Jae H. Kang, Janey L. Wiggs, Siegfried K. Wagner, Anthony Khawaja, Louis R. Pasquale*, Naomi Allen, Tariq Aslam, Denize Atan, Konstantinos Balaskas, Sarah Barman, Jenny Barrett, Paul Bishop, Graeme Black, Tasanee Braithwaite, Roxana Carare, Usha Chakravarthy, Michelle Chan, Sharon Chua, Alexander DayParul Desai, Bal Dhillon, Andrew Dick, Alexander Doney, Cathy Egan, Sarah Ennis, Paul Foster, Marcus Fruttiger, John Gallacher, David Garway-Heath, Jane Gibson, Jeremy Guggenheim, Chris Hammond, Alison Hardcastle, Simon Harding, Ruth Hogg, Pirro Hysi, Pearse Keane, Peng Khaw, Anthony Khawaja, Gerassimos Lascaratos, Thomas Littlejohns, Andrew J. Lotery, Robert Luben, Phil Luthert, Bernadette McGuinness, Gareth McKay, Euan Paterson, Tunde Peto, Jayne Woodside, Modifiable Risk Factors for Glaucoma Collaboration, UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium, International Glaucoma Genetics Consortium

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Précis: In this cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank participants, we find no adverse association between self-reported oral health conditions and either glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressures. Purpose: Poor oral health may cause inflammation, which accelerates the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated the relationship between oral health and glaucoma. Patients: United Kingdom Biobank participants. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of participants categorized by self-reported oral health status. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used. Primary analysis examined the association with glaucoma prevalence. Secondary analyses examined associations with IOP, macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL), and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thicknesses, and interaction terms with multitrait glaucoma polygenic risk scores (MTAG PRS) or intraocular pressure (IOP) PRS. Results: A total of 170,815 participants (34.3%) reported current oral health problems, including painful or bleeding gums, toothache, loose teeth, and/or denture wear. A In all, 33,059, 33,004, 14,652, and 14,613 participants were available for analysis of glaucoma, IOP, mRNFL, and mGCIPL, respectively. No association between oral health and glaucoma was identified [odds ratio (OR): 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95-1.14]. IOPs were slightly lower among those with oral disease (-0.08 mm Hg, 95% CI: -0.15, -0.009); specifically, among those with loose teeth (P=0.03) and denture-wearers (P<0.0001). mRNFL measurements were lower among those with oral health conditions (-0.14 μm, 95% CI: -0.27, -0.0009), but mGCIPL measurements (P=0.96) were not significantly different. A PRS for IOP or glaucoma did not modify relations between oral health and IOP or glaucoma (P for interactions ≥ 0.17). Conclusions: Self-reported oral health was not associated with elevated IOP or an increased risk of glaucoma. Future studies should confirm the null association between clinically diagnosed oral health conditions and glaucoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)400-408
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Glaucoma
Volume33
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jun 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • dental health
  • glaucoma
  • intraocular pressure
  • oral health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

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