[Comparative study of chronic periodontitis severity in atherosclerosis patients]

ABSTRACT

The relationship between chronic periodontitis and atherosclerosis has been debated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological indices in chronic periodontitis subjects with and without atherosclerosis. Two hundreds chronic periodontitis patients [184 males and 16 females, mean age 52.61 years] were divided into two groups first group consisted of 100 subjects with atherosclerosis [92 males and 8 females, mean age 52.06]; second group consisted of 100 subjects without atherosclerosis [92 males and 8 females, mean age 53.16]. Probing depth, gingival recession and clinical attachment loss were performed for each patient. Alveolar bone loss was assessed using apical digital radiography. Chi square and Mann Whitney U were used for the statistical study [p<0.05]. Values of clinical attachment loss and alveolar bone loss were significantly higher in the atherosclerosis group vs. non-atherosclerosis group. The odds ratio of having atherosclerosis was higher when the clinical attachment loss was >3 mm [OR=0.327]. Also, the odds ratio of having atherosclerosis was higher when alveolar bone loss was moderate and severe vs. mild [OR=1.568]. These results support the role of severe chronic periodontitis as a possible risk indicator for having atherosclerosis, which may suggest the need for more studies looking at the possible effect of periodontal treatment on atherosclerosis progression which is the main cause of cardiovascular diseases