Periodontitis and pulmonary function: a Mendelian randomization study

OBJECTIVES: Observational research suggests that periodontitis affects pulmonary function; however, observational studies are subject to confounding and reverse causation, making causal inference and the direction of these associations difficult. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the potential causal association between genetic liability to periodontitis and pulmonary function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with periodontitis (P < 5 × 10(−6)) from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 17,353 European descent periodontitis cases and 28,210 controls from the GeneLifestyle Interactions in Dental Endpoints consortium and the UK Biobank, and related these to SNPs from a lung function GWAS including 79,055 study participants of the SpiroMeta Consortium. RESULTS: MR analysis suggested no effect of periodontitis on the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to lower forced vital capacity (standard deviation increment in outcome per doubling of the odds of the exposure (95% confidence interval) = − 0.004 (− 0.028; 0.020)). Replication analysis using genetic instruments from two different GWAS and sensitivity analyses to address potential pleiotropy led to no substantial changes in estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings do not support a relationship between genetic liability for periodontitis and pulmonary function. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Periodontitis does not seem to be a risk factor for worsening of pulmonary function.