Periodontitis is associated with combined handgrip strength but not with skeletal muscle mass index in middle-aged U.S. adults from NHANES 2013-2014

Objectives: Indicators of oral and periodontal diseases have previously been associated with handgrip strength and muscle mass and function in older adults in several populations. However, research in middle-aged adults on the relationship between periodontitis and handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass – another important indicator of sarcopenia – has been limited. This study investigated the association between periodontitis and sarcopenia indicators in middle-aged adults from a U.S. population. Materials: and Methods: Adults with complete periodontal and whole-body dual x-ray absorptiometry examinations from the 2013–2014 wave of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analysed using fully adjusted multiple linear regression models for associations between periodontitis diagnosis and severity and skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and combined handgrip strength (cHGS). Results: : A subset of 1,912 individuals with a complete periodontal examination and whole-body dual x-ray absorptiometry scan from the NHANES 2013–2014 main cohort (n = 10,683) were included in the analysis. The median age of the participants was 43 years. Overall, 32% of the participants (n = 612) were determined to have periodontitis. Of these, 513 (26.8%) had non-severe (mild or moderate) periodontitis, and 99 (5.2%) had severe periodontitis. Both non-severe and severe periodontitis showed significant associations with cHGS (ß = -2.28, 95% CI -3.57–-0.98 and ß = -2.84, 95% CI -5.37–-0.31, respectively), but not with SMMI. Conclusion: The findings of the current study indicate that periodontitis and handgrip strength are interrelated. The present study highlights the need of further prospective research to investigate the nature and direction of the relationship between periodontitis and sarcopenia indicators. Clinical relevance: Future studies can support the screening, prevention and clinical management of sarcopenia and periodontitis, and emphasize the interdisciplinary and complementary approach between the disciplines of geriatric medicine and periodontology.