A matched case-control study on the risk factors of severe early childhood caries among 5 years old children in Guangzhou 2015

Objective To study the risk factors of severe early childhood caries (SECC) among 5 years old children in Guangzhou, and to provide theoretical evidence for developing scientific and effective interventions. Methods 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted in 244 cases with SECC and 244 controls with no caries based on population survey. Univariate and multivariate conditional Logistic regressions were used to analyze the factors influencing SECC. Results Multivariate conditional Logistic regression showed that low birth weight (OR=3.08, 95% CI:1.00-9.43, P=0.049), high birth weight (OR=2.30,95%CI:1.06-4.97,P=0.035) regular eating sweets (OR=2.17, 95% CI:1.07-4.44, P=0.033), habit of eating sweets before bedtime (OR=1.80, 95% CI:1.08-2.98, P=0.023), parent age (OR=0.05, 95% CI:0.28-0.87, P=0.015) were risk factors for the occurrence of SECC among 5 years old children in Guangzhou. Conclusions Parents should pay more attention to children's deciduous caries, and good eating habits should be developed from younger age for reducing SECC occurrence.