Leisure-time and occupational physical activity demonstrate divergent associations with periodontitis: A population-based study

To evaluate the association between Leisure-Time/Occupational Physical Activity (LTPA/OPA) and periodontitis in a nationally representative sample of the US population.Data from 10,679 adults were retrieved from the NHANES 2009-2014 database. Physical activity was assessed through the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; accordingly, subjects were classified as performing either high or low LTPA/OPA. Periodontal status was assessed through a full-mouth periodontal examination, and subjects were classified according to the AAP/CDC criteria (no, mild, moderate, severe periodontitis). Simple and multiple regression analyses were applied to study the association between LTPA/OPA and periodontitis/severe periodontitis.Multiple regression analyses identified high LTPA as protective indicator for periodontitis (OR=0.81; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.92), while high OPA resulted as a significant risk indicator (OR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.30). The combination of low LTPA/high OPA showed a cumulative independent association with periodontitis (OR=1.47; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.72). Moreover, both high LTPA (OR=0.72; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.90) and high OPA (OR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.53) resulted independently associated with stronger estimates of severe periodontitis; the same was observed for the combination of low LTPA/high OPA (OR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.29, 2.15).Leisure-time and occupational physical activity demonstrated divergent associations with periodontitis.