Figure 1.

Relationship of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) severity, assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index and chronic severe periodontitis (n = 12,469). Estimates are expressed at specified ages of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 y, stratified at severity thresholds. Predicted estimates were obtained from a binary logistic regression model that adjusted for age, sex, and heritage, number of retained teeth, smoking, diabetes, body mass index, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Findings show a monotonic relationship of greater probability of severe periodontitis at greater SDB severity. There is an effect modification of age (P < 0.001) such that SDB has a stronger relationship with severe periodontitis in younger adults and that this relationship weakens at older ages. AHI, apnea-hypopnea index; CI, confidence interval.