Advertisement
Analyzing seven years of dental and medical claims data from Chrysleremployees and their dependents, researchers will determine if medical costswere lower for those with diabetes who also had treatment for periodontaldisease (inflammation of the gums). The healthcare business of Thomson Reuters-- a global information services company -- is contributing to the dataanalytics and methodologies for the study.
Advertisement
Diabetes, a common and costly chronic disease, increased three-foldbetween 1960 and 1990 and is projected to increase by 44 percent between 2002and 2020. People with diabetes and poor blood sugar control are moresusceptible to periodontal disease. A growing body of evidence suggests thatthe reverse is also true -- that periodontal disease can adversely affectblood sugar control in those with diabetes. Researchers believe that bykeeping gum disease in check, people with diabetes can better manage theirblood glucose levels and avoid many of the serious complications of diabetes.
"Recent studies have shown that having periodontal disease makes thosewith type 2 diabetes more likely to develop worsened glycemic control and putsthem at much greater risk of kidney disease and death due to kidney orcardiovascular disease," said George W. Taylor, D.M.D., M.P.H., Dr.PH.,associate professor, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, and principalinvestigator of the study. "Given the numerous medical studies showing thatgood glycemic control results in reduced development and progression ofdiabetes complications, we believe there is the potential that periodontaltreatment can provide an increment in improvement of diabetes control andsubsequently a reduction in the risk for diabetes complications."
"We hope to find a reduction in total medical care costs for individualswith diabetes and periodontal disease who receive treatment," said Jed J.Jacobson, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H., senior vice president and chief scienceofficer at Delta Dental. "If this proves true, it can lead to changing the waywe manage patients with diabetes, not only saving health care costs, butlessening the burden of diabetes and, ultimately, saving lives."
The study, titled "Periodontal Therapy: Dental Insurance Claims andMedical Care Costs in Diabetes," will analyze dental and medical claims datafrom 2000 to 2007 for approximately 3,300 Chrysler employees and theirdependents with diabetes. Personal identifiable information will be completelystripped and deleted from the data by Delta Dental and Thomson Reuters priorto transfer to the researchers. The specific aim of the study is to explorethe association of periodontal treatment with total medical care costs,medical care costs specifically related to diabetes, and costs for medicalcare related to complications of diabetes, such as stroke, heart disease, footulcers, and infections.
"We continue to look for ways to help our employees improve their healthstatus and quality of life while containing our health care costs," said KateKohn-Parrott, director, Integrated Healthcare and Disability, Chrysler LLC."If the results of this study, and others like it, ultimately lead to new waysto manage chronic illness, we all benefit."
The study, expected to be completed in February 2009, is funded with agrant from the Delta Dental Research and Data Institute.
About the Delta Dental Research and Data Institute
The Research and Data Institute was established in 2005 by Delta Dental ofMichigan, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee and Indiana to develop innovative andscientifically-based dental benefits that improve health. The Institute,which has the world's largest data
