2017 Funded Projects
CFDHRE Peer Reviewed Grant
Project Title:
Self-reported oral health status, diabetes outcomes and health care utilization in a cohort of diabetics in Ontario.
Lead Principal Applicant
Carlos Quiñonez, DMD, MSc, PhD, FRCD(C)
Title: Assistant Professor and Program Director, Dental Public Health
Organization: University of Toronto
Principal Applicant:
Kamini Kaura, BSc (Hons), Dip (DH), RDH
Title: Graduate Student, Masters of Science in Dentistry (Dental Public Health)
Organization: University of Toronto
Award
$10,000
Abstract:
Background: Periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus are two highly prevalent chronic diseases linked by systemic inflammation. Diabetes is a risk factor for severe periodontal disease and many studies confirm that periodontal disease
increases the severity of diabetes and complicates metabolic control by exaggerating the immune-inflammatory response. Individuals with poorly managed diabetes experience complications that are a significant burden for the individual and society,
including the direct costs of medical care and other indirect costs such as loss of productivity. The Canadian Diabetes Association estimates a 48% increase in diabetes prevalence and a 29% increase in diabetes-related costs in Ontario by 2025. However,
in Ontario and Canada, there is a lack of population-based evidence to quantify the potential impact of oral health on diabetes-related outcomes.
Objective: To i) Quantify and compare differences in health outcomes among diabetics who report oral health status as “poor to fair” to those who report “good to excellent” and ii) Quantify the potential oral health-related population
level risk for diabetes outcomes
Methods:
- Study Design: Retrospective study of a cohort of diabetics.
- Dependent Variables: Diabetes-related health outcomes, health care utilization and resource consumption
- Explanatory & Control Variables: Self-reported oral health as a proxy for periodontal condition, controlling for demographic characteristics and socioeconomic position.
- Methodology & Statistical Analyses: A retrospective cohort study will be conducted of health outcomes and care utilization among diabetics. Time to event analysis modeling will determine the oral health attributable risk of diabetes
specific outcomes.
Impact: The results from the project are intended for dissemination among policy-stakeholders, dental professionals, researchers, and members of academia. These results will help evaluate the impact Canada’s dental care system can have
for individuals with chronic disease, in particular diabetes. This project seeks to promote an understanding of the importance of good oral health in the management of chronic disease.