The 2018 EFP/AAP periodontitis case classification demonstrates high agreement with the 2012 CDC/AAP criteria

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the agreement between the 2018 EFP/AAP periodontitis case classification and the 2012 CDC/AAP criteria.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study assessed a population-based sample from a rural area in southern Brazil. A complete periodontal examination was performed at six sites/tooth. The periodontitis case definition was estimated and compared according to the 2018 EFP/AAP classification and the 2012 CDC/AAP criteria (reference). Diagnostic tests included sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under ROC curve (AUC).

Results: Five hundred and eighty-eight subjects with ≥6 teeth each were included. Based on the 2018 EFP/AAP classification, 71.1% of the subjects were classified as stage III/IV showing 100% agreement with 2012 CDC/AAP criteria for the severe category. For the moderate and severe classification, the 2018 EFP/AAP SN was 99.8% and 100%, SP 13.6% and 43.6%, PPV 83.4% and 47.4%, and NPV 93.7% and 100%, respectively. The AUC was 0.9059 (95% CI = 0.879-0.933) and the optimal cut-off based on the curve was stage III.

Conclusions: The 2018 EFP/AAP periodontitis case classification showed high agreement with the 2012 CDC/AAP criteria in a rural sample with high periodontitis occurrence.

Keywords: classification; diagnostic tests; observational study; periodontal diseases; periodontitis.