Aims: This study aimed to examine the association between type 2 diabetes and poor self-rated oral health, and to investigate whether such association is modified by socioeconomic position.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, including a population aged 18-75 years with self-reported type 2 diabetes (N = 41,884) and a sex-, age- and municipality-matched reference population from the Health in Central Denmark survey (2020). Multivariable logistic regression was used, and effect modification of indicators of socioeconomic position was examined.
Results: Oral health was rated as poor in 37.0% of the population with type 2 diabetes and in 23.8% of the reference population without diabetes. Individuals with diabetes had higher risk of poor oral health (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.46 (95% CI: 1.39; 1.53)) than references. Interaction was seen between type 2 diabetes and highest attained education (p < 0.001). Stratified analyses showed higher risk of poor oral health in people with type 2 diabetes across all educational levels.
Conclusions: People with type 2 diabetes were more likely to rate their oral health as poor than the reference population. Low education strengthened the association between diabetes and poor oral health.
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Health Inequalities; Oral Health; Self Report; Socioeconomic Disparities; Type 2.
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