Chronic Periodontitis as a Potential Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Introduction:Cardiovascular and periodontal diseases are common inflammatory conditions in human population. Periodontal disease is associated with elevations of several markers of chronic inflammation and because of evidences implicating chronic inflammation in the etiology of coronary artery disease (CAD), an etiologic relationship between periodontal disease and CAD has been hypothesized. This study was conducted to find out whether chronic periodontitis is a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease. Methodology: The present study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, at a tertiary care hospital. Fifty patients who had heart disease as confirmed by coronary angiogram and met inclusion criteria were selected as cases and other fifty with no coronary heart disease served as controls. Periodontal disease data were collected by using Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA) Index. Results: Asignificant difference was found between cases and controls for mean sextant values of CPI score 0, CPI score 1, and CPI score 2. Asignificant difference was found for mean sextant values between cases and controls for LOA score 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. A statistically significant difference was found between individuals from case and control group with respect to highest LOAscore. Conclusion: Periodontal disease level as measured by CPI and LOA index was higher among cases with coronary artery disease when compared to controls. Chronic periodontitis can serve as a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease.

Keywords

• Cardiovascular disease, Coronary artery disease, Periodontitis