Relationship between overall child development and caries severity in Chilean three-year-old preschool children / Relación entre el desarrollo infantil integral y la severidad de caries en preescolares chilenos de 3 años

Abstract: to determine the relationship between caries and overall child development in three-year-old children in the cities of Linares and Talca, Chile, 2014-2015. Method: Cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 170 preschool children attending daycare centers in Linares and Talca. Four dimensions of child development (language, cognition, motor skills and socio-emotional development) were qualitatively assessed using the child learning and development test (TADI, for its acronym in Spanish). Nutritional development was calculated with the weight/height index. Caries history was assessed by the dmft index and compromised tissue quantification. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's rho, ANOVA, Student’s t-test, Fisher’s exact test and Kruskal-Wallis. Results: A negative linear correlation was observed between dmft and total TADI score (r=-0.20, p=0.00), and the dimensions of language (r=-0.19, p=0.01), cognition (r=-0.18, p=0.02) and socio-emotional development (r=-0.21, p=0.01). Preschoolers with a dmft of >6.5 had a lower average TADI score than those with a dmft of <2.6 (p=0.009). There were no statistically significant differences in the level of compromised tissue quantification between preschool children with normal and altered development. No statistically significant association between dmft and nutritional development was found. Conclusion: A relationship between caries severity and overall child development in three-year-old preschool children was observed. Longitudinal studies are required to assess causality.

Resumen: determinar la relación entre la severidad de caries y el desarrollo infantil integral en preescolares de tres años de las ciudades Linares y Talca durante el período 2014- 2015. Método: Estudio transversal con una muestra de 170 preescolares asistentes a jardines infantiles de Linares y Talca. El test de aprendizaje y desarrollo infantil (TADI) evaluó el desarrollo en cuatro dimensiones (lenguaje, cognición, motricidad y socioemocionalidad). El desarrollo nutricional se calculó con el índice peso/talla. Se evaluó la historia de caries mediante ceod y compromiso del tejido dentario. Se realizó análisis estadístico con rho de Pearson, ANOVA, t de student, test exacto de Fisher y Kruskall Wallis. Resultados: Se observó una correlación lineal negativa entre ceod y el puntaje total del TADI (r=-0,20, p=0,00), y las dimensiones de lenguaje (r=-0,19, p=0,01), cognición (r=-0,18, p=0,02) y socioemocionalidad (r=-0,21, p=0,01). Los preescolares con ceod >6,5 tuvieron un promedio TADI menor que aquellos con ceod <2,6 (p=0,009). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el compromiso del tejido dentario entre preescolares con desarrollo normal y alterado. No se observó asociación estadísticamente significativa entre ceod y desarrollo nutricional. Conclusión: Se observó una relación entre la severidad de caries y el desarrollo infantil integral en preescolares de tres años. Se requiere de estudios longitudinales para evaluar su causalidad.