ABSTRACT
Background: Edentulism, though declining in younger adults, remains prevalent in the U.S. older adult population. Poorer health outcomes, including cardiovascular outcomes have been associated with edentulism. Sleep disorders are also common in older adults and have been associated with cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to determine if edentulism is associated with cardiovascular disease when sleep disorders are included in the analyses. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2008 were used in this study. Adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed with cardiovascular disease as the dependent variable and dental status (edentulism, dentate) as the key independent variable and sleep variables introduced as potential confounders. Results: In multivariable analyses, edentulism was independently associated with cardiovascular disease with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.15 (95% CI: 1.54, 3.00). The model included a sleep summary variable, race, sex, education, smoking status, and drinking status, physical activity, body mass index, conditions or disease count, family poverty index, and insurance status. Conclusions: Edentulism was associated with cardiovascular disease independent of sleep disordered breathing.