Association Between Chronic Diseases and Need for Dental Treatment in a Stomatology of Special Patients Service

Abstract

To determine the association between chronic diseases (CD) and the need for dental treatment in patients of the stomatology of special patients service (SSPS) of the Teaching Dental Center (TDC) of Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) in Lima-Peru from 2016 to 2019. A cross-sectional study with a total population of 2024 digital medical records of individuals over 18 years old. A dependent variable was need for dental treatment, so an instrument to assess it was created; additionally, the presence of CD was evaluated. Other covariates considered were pharmacological treatment, last dental visit, provenance, age group, and sex. Statistical analyses were performed, including a bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test. Finally, a Poisson linear regression was performed to determine crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with the variables showing associations, with a 95% confidence level (95%CI) and a p < .05 value. The need for low-complexity dental treatment was present in 2.62% ( n = 52) of patients, moderate complexity in 27.21% ( n = 541) of patients, and high complexity in 70.17% ( n = 1395) of patients. In relation to CD, 30.58% ( n = 608) had one, 31.39% ( n = 624) had two, and 38.03% ( n = 756) had three or more. In the multivariate analysis, the presence of three to more CD and the need for high-complexity vs. low-complexity treatment, an aPR of 1.02 (95%CI): 1.01–1.04; p = .019) was obtained. There is a positive association between the presence of three or more CD and the need for high complexity dental treatment compared to low-complexity dental treatment, adjusted for use of pharmacological treatment and age.