Association Between Health Insurance and Generalized Periodontal Disease in a Study Population of Gullah African Americans with Diabetes

• Activity Number: 285
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Health Policy Statistics
• Author(s): Nicole M. Marlow*+ and Elizabeth Slate and Jyotika Fernandes and Carlos Salinas
• Companies: Medical University of South Carolina and Medical University of South Carolina and Medical University of South Carolina and Medical University of South Carolina
• Keywords: generalized periodontal disease ; diabetes ; Gullah African Americans ; access to healthcare ; health insurance ; income

Abstract

We used logistic regression to explore the relationship between health insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, private, and none) and generalized periodontal disease (GPD) severity (=3, =4, and =5 mm clinical attachment loss [CAL] at =30% of sites) among Gullah diabetics (N=303), adjusting for income and other covariates. Private insurance was most prevalent (34.0%), followed by none (26.1%), Medicare (22.1%), and Medicaid (17.8%). Prevalence of GPD was 35.6% at =3, 20.1% at =4, and 10.2% at =5 mm CAL. In univariate models, Medicaid, Medicare, and uninsured had increased likelihood (p< .05) of GPD (vs. private). Income attenuated these associations in multivariable models; differences persisted (p< .05) for uninsured and Medicare at =3 and =4 mm CAL and approached significance (p< .06) for Medicaid at =3 mm CAL. Increased access to care may achieve earlier GPD diagnosis in this population.