Elevated leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in Korean adults: the 2012-2014 KNHANES

Objective: Both an elevated leukocyte count and periodontitis share well-recognized associations with cardiometabolic diseases. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify whether the leukocyte count is associated with periodontitis in a nationally representative Korean adult population.

Materials and methods: Data from 9391 participants (3659 males and 5732 females) enrolled in 2012-2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Leukocyte quartiles were categorized as follows: 3000 ≤ Q1 ≤ 4870, 4880 ≤ Q2 ≤5790, 5800 ≤ Q3 ≤ 6840, and 6850 ≤ Q4 ≤ 10000 cells/μl. Periodontitis was defined as scoring greater than or equal to 'code 3' in at least one site according to the WHO's Community Periodontal Index. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for periodontitis in each leukocyte count quartile were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses.

Results: The prevalence of periodontitis was directly correlated with increasing leukocyte quartiles: 19%, 20.4%, 24.3%, and 30.3%. Compared with the lowest leukocyte quartile group, the OR (95% CI) for periodontitis of the highest leukocyte quartile was 1.558 (1.285-1.891) after controlling for confounding factors.

Conclusion: An elevated leukocyte count was positively associated with the presence of periodontitis.