THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERIODONTAL PATHOLOGY AND SYSTEMIC HEALTH

Abstract

Aim: To assess the relationship between periodontal pathology and systemic diseases.

Methods: Data for the study were collected from medical records of patients who were treated at the Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University during the period from 2007 to 2015. Out of 3415 medical cases reviewed, 1442 cases met inclusion criteria and were selected for the study. Inclusion criteria were: age of 30 years and older, fully completed General Health Questionnaire, Periodontal Chart and/or Periodontal Health Index. The presence of diagnosed allergies, tumours, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurological, autoimmune, gastrointestinal and pulmonary diseases was assessed. Periodontitis was diagnosed according to “CDC-AAP definitions for periodontitis” (Eke et al., 2012). As patients were not directly involved and could not be identified in the results, ethics approval was not required. The administration of the Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vilnius gave permission for access to the patient records. Statistical analysis was performed using “STATA 12.0” software (descriptive statistics, Chi-square test (x2), logistic regression).

Results: Out of 1442 individuals, 887 (61.5%) were female and 555 (38.5%) male. The average age was 46.8 (±12.9) years. 712 (49.4%) individuals were diagnosed with moderate or severe periodontitis. The overall amount of systemic diseases positively correlated with the severity of periodontitis in all age groups (p<0.05). Independently of age, gender, smoking and alcohol consumption, moderate and severe periodontitis was associated with a higher risk of systemic diseases: blood coagulation disorders (OR=2.7; p=0.024), high blood pressure (OR=6.7; p<0.001), arrhythmia (OR=8.2; p=0.018), other cardiovascular diseases (OR=3.4; p=0.024), diabetes (OR=2.9; p=0.003), thyroid disorders (OR=2.2; p=0.009), gastrointestinal diseases (OR=2; p=0.001), benign and malignant tumours (OR=2.4; p=0.004) and osteoporosis (OR=2.5; p=0.046). No association between periodontitis and infectious diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, tuberculosis, hepatitis), autoimmune diseases (psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosis) or allergies was found.

Conclusions: In the population studied, moderate or severe periodontitis was associated with increased risk of having systemic diseases and a higher number of comorbidities compared to gingivitis or mild periodontitis.