Evaluation of association between severe periodontitis and carotid intima-media thickness in young adults

Abstract

Background and Objective: To evaluate the association between severe generalized periodontitis and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in young, otherwise systemically healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 systemically healthy individuals of age between 20 and 40 years were included in the study. Group I consisted of 30 individuals with healthy periodontal tissue and Group II with 30 individuals with severe generalized periodontitis. Ultrasonographic evaluation of bilateral CIMT at the level of common carotid artery was done. Results: The overall mean intima-media thickness (IMT) in Group I was 0.52 ± 0.07 mm and in Group II was 0.61 ± 0.07 mm. Bivariate analysis considering the binomial IMT (≥0.6) as outcome variable showed odd's ratio = 16 for probing depth and clinical attachment loss. The final model of stepwise logistic regression using binomial IMT (>0.6) as outcome variable showed statistical significance with clinical attachment loss suggesting that as the clinical attachment loss increases the IMT also increases. Conclusion: Severe generalized periodontitis is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in young systemically healthy patients.

Keywords

• Atherosclerosis
• carotid intima-media thickness
• periodontitis