Health behaviors and their relation to metabolic control and periodontal status in type 2 diabetic patients: A model tested using a linear structural relations program

Background: Although it has been reported that diabetic control is beneficial in managing periodontal disease, there are few studies in the literature where the relationship between singular behavioral factors and periodontal status has been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the simultaneous interrelationships among selected medical/dental variables and 5 behavior components with general health behavior (GHB), perceived fatigue (PF), diet control (DC), regular diet (RD), and dental behavioral inventory (HV-DBI) scores, using data from a study of 102 type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A hypothesized model was tested by a linear structural relations program (LISREL). Results: There was a significant correlation between oral health behavior and calculus accumulation (r = 0.399; P <0.001). Correlations were found between calculus and periodontal status measured by gingivitis index and probing depth (r = 0.232; P <0.05, r = 0.279; P <0.01, respectively). The final model was found to be consistent with the data (chi (2) = 55.0, df = 47, P = 0.197; GFI = 0.922). Oral health behavior affected periodontal status through its effect on calculus but not plaque accumulation. General health behavior had significant effects on oral health behavior and diet behavior (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Diet behavior affected both plaque accumulation and metabolic control (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). However, the result was the virtual absence of a significant pass coefficient between metabolic control and periodontal status. Conclusions: The severity of the 2 diseases seemed to be connected indirectly through health behaviors such as diet behavior and oral health behavior.