Socioeconomic Factors and Caries in People between 19 and 60 Years of Age: An Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Simone M. Costa, Carolina C. Martins, Mânia Q. C. Pinto, Mara Vasconcelos and Mauro H. N. G. Abreu
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Simone M. Costa: Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais 39401-089, Brazil
Carolina C. Martins: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
Mânia Q. C. Pinto: Department of Dentistry, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais 39401-089, Brazil
Mara Vasconcelos: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
Mauro H. N. G. Abreu: Department of Community and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: This study is aimed to perform an update of a systematic review and meta-regression to evaluate the effect modification of the socioeconomic indicators on caries in adults. We included studies that associated social determinants with caries, with no restriction of year and language. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the risk of bias. With regard to the meta-analysis, statistical heterogeneity was evaluated by I 2 , and the random effect model was used when it was high. A subgroup analysis was conducted for socioeconomic indicators, and a meta-regression was performed. Publication bias was assessed through Egger’s test. Sixty-one studies were included in the systematic review and 25 were included in the meta-analysis. All of the studies were published between 1975 and 2016. The most frequent socioeconomic indicators were schooling, income, and socioeconomic status (SES). In the quantitative analysis, the DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) variation was attributed to the studies’ heterogeneity. The increase of 10.35 units in the proportion of people with lower SES was associated with an increase of one unit in DMFT, p = 0.050. The findings provide evidence that populations with the highest proportions of people with low SES are associated with a greater severity of caries. The results suggest the need for actions to reduce the inequalities in oral health (PROSPERO [CRD42017074434]).

Keywords: adults; caries; socioeconomic status; epidemiology; meta-analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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