Predição de adolescentes com alto risco para perda dentária em Mato Grosso do Sul: Abordagem por meio de aprendizado de máquina (machine learning).

Abstract

Dental caries associated with unhealthy food consumption presents a major public health challenge, especially among adolescents. This study analyzed the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) in the association between unhealthy food consumption and caries experience, measured by the DMFS index (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces), in 12-year-old adolescents in Brazil. A comprehensive epidemiological survey was conducted in eight municipalities in the interior of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, involving a total of 391 participating adolescents. Detailed data were collected on caries experience, using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, unhealthy food consumption, based on indicators from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and sociodemographic characteristics. For the statistical analysis, the study calculated the SII and RII, performing subsequent adjustments for the adolescents' parents' income and schooling. The results indicated that the SII was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.18–1.45), demonstrating the existence of significant absolute inequalities in caries experience directly related to unhealthy food consumption. The RII, in turn, reached 1.53 (95% CI: 1.16–2.01), indicating that the caries burden is 53% higher in the group of adolescents with high unhealthy food consumption. Furthermore, this data remained relevant even after adjusting for socioeconomic variables such as parents' income and schooling. In conclusion, it is observed that the participating Brazilian adolescents exhibit notable inequalities in caries experience, which are strongly associated with unhealthy food consumption patterns. Therefore, the study emphasizes that effective public health strategies that actively promote healthy eating during adolescence are crucial, where the implementation of these measures is fundamental to reduce existing oral health disparities and prevent the progression of inequalities throughout life. The Ethics Committee approved the project (CAAE nº 85647518.4.0000.0021).