Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with oral health: First results from the Kurdish cohort study

AIMS: Investigate the association between oral and dental health (ODH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults aged 35–70 years. METHODS: The study utilized data from the enrollment phase of Dehgolan prospective cohort study in the west of Iran. A cross‐sectional assessment was conducted on a total of 3996 participants, involving a comprehensive oral examination and the assessment of their oral hygiene behavior (ODH). MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Logistic regression used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: MetS was more prevalent among those who not daily brushing and flossing. Participants with missing teeth (MT) show higher prevalent of MetS. Being female, lower age, illiteracy, family history of diabetes, low physical activity, and salt at table were independently associated with increase odds of MetS (p < 0.05). Odds of MetS were significantly decreased with use flossing (OR = 0.75; CI = 0.60–0.93), decayed (OR = 0.83; CI = 0.72–0.97), filled (OR = 0.84; CI = 0.71–0.99), and increased with MT (OR = 1.45; CI = 1.16–1.81) as long as adjusted for ODH factors. When other potential confounder such as sociodemographic, personal and nutritional habits were adjusted, daily flossing was the only factor that still statistically decreased (OR = 0.79; CI = 0.62–0.99) the odds of MetS. CONCLUSION: Daily flossing was the only factor that independently associated with MetS. Relationship of other ODH factors with Mets were confounded by sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.