Table 1.
Distribution of variables by bacterial status (low v. medium–high counts of mutans streptococci) among children (n 271) aged 4–11 years, the IDEFICS Sweden study
| Low counts* (≤105 CFU/ml, n 223) | Medium–high counts (>105 CFU/ml, n 48) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | Mean | sd | Mean | sd | P value† |
| Age (years) | 8·2 | 1·9 | 8·9 | 1·6 | 0·01 |
| Sugar propensity ratio (%) | 21·9 | 3·5 | 23·5 | 4·6 | 0·02 |
| Sleep duration (h) | 10·1 | 0·7 | 9·7 | 0·6 | 0·00 |
| Number of meals | 5·5 | 1·2 | 5·9 | 1·2 | 0·03 |
| BMI Z-score | 0·1 | 1·3 | 0·5 | 1·2 | 0·05 |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 57·7 | 6·8 | 60·5 | 8·4 | 0·03 |
IDEFICS, Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health Effects In Children and infantS; CFU, colony-forming units; MS, mutans streptococci.
*
No. of participants below detection limit of MS (200 CFU/ml)=183 (67·5 %); median (interquartile range) count of MS among participants with MS above detection limit=1·3 (0·46–13·8)×105 CFU/ml.
†
P values from t test for continuous variables.