Background: Serum albumin concentration is known to be an independent predictor of survival in head and neck cancer. The previous studies suggested relationships between serum albumin concentration and oral health status in populations without serious systemic disorders. However, these relationships remain unclear in patients with head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum albumin concentration and oral health status in patients with head and neck cancer.
Methods: Fifty individuals diagnosed with primary head and neck cancer, 25 individuals with normal serum albumin concentration (≥3.85 g/dL), and 25 age- and sex-matched individuals with lower serum albumin concentration (<3.85 g/dL) were analyzed. General status, including cancer stage, body mass index, drinking and smoking habits, and biochemical serum markers, were evaluated. Oral health status, including periodontal condition and occlusion tooth pairs, were also evaluated.
Results: Mean clinical attachment level (CAL) and C-reactive protein in the lower serum albumin concentration group were greater than those in the normal serum albumin concentration group (P = 0.009 and P = 0.002, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in any other oral and/or serum parameters between the two serum albumin groups. A logistic regression model showed that mean CAL was significantly associated with high or low levels of serum albumin concentration (odds ratio = 9.752; 95% confidence interval = 1.702 to 55.861; P = 0.011).
Conclusions: This study suggests an association between periodontal disease and serum albumin concentration in patients with head and neck cancer. Longitudinal studies are necessary to examine the causal relationship between serum albumin concentration and periodontal condition.