Periodontal disease and risk of head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 23;8(10):e79017. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079017. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

Background: Many epidemiological studies have found a positive association of periodontal disease (PD) with risk of head and neck cancer (HNC), but the findings are varied or even contradictory. In this work, we performed a meta-analysis to ascertain the relationship between PD and HNC risk.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for relevant observational studies on the association between PD and HNC risk published up to March 23, 2013. Data from the included studies were extracted and analyzed independently by two authors. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software.

Results: We obtained seven observational studies involving two cohort and six case-control studies. Random-effects meta-analysis indicated a significant association between PD and HNC risk (odds ratio = 2.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.1.68 - 4.14; p < 0.001), with sensitivity analysis showing that the result was robust. Subgroup analyses based on adjustment for covariates, study design, PD assessment, tumor site, and ethnicity also revealed a significant association.

Conclusions: Based on currently evidence, PD is probably a significant and independent risk factor of HNC.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Observational Studies as Topic
  • Odds Ratio
  • Periodontal Diseases / complications*
  • Periodontal Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Grants and funding

This research was supported (in part) by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2012FFB03902), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Ministry of Education (D20122405), the Foundation of Education and Science Planning Project of Hubei Province (2012A050), and the Intramural Research Program of the Hubei University of Medicine (2011CZX01), without commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. No additional external funding received for this study.