Purpose: To investigate the association between plasma antibody levels against Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) and atrial fibrillation (AF) history in community-dwelling older individuals in Japan.
Materials and methods: This study was a subset of the Uonuma cohort study, including 3091 participants aged 60-79 years. Data were collected, including AF history as a dependent variable, plasma immunoglobulin G antibody levels against PG as an independent variable, and previously reported AF risk factors and demographic information as covariates.
Results: The median age of the participants was 69 years. Of the 3091 participants, 1411 (45.6%) were men, and 56 (1.8%) had an AF history. AF prevalence was significantly higher in participants with higher antibody levels against PG than in those with lower antibody levels (3.0% vs 1.4%; p = 0.005). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that participants with higher antibody levels against PG had twofold higher odds of having AF (odds ratio = 2.13; 95% confidence interval = 1.23-3.69). Restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a nonlinear relationship between antibody levels against PG and AF history.
Conclusion: Plasma antibody levels against PG were associated with AF history in community-dwelling older individuals in Japan.
Keywords: Porphyromonas gingivalis; antibody level; atrial fibrilation; older adults; periodontitis.