The association between periodontal disease parameters and severity of atherosclerosis

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerosis is the most common cause for heart attack and stroke. In the last
decade, several epidemiological studies have found an association between periodontal infection
and atherosclerosis. The aim of this research was to determine the possible association between
chronic periodontal disease and severity of atherosclerosis.
Materials and Methods: Eighty‑two subjects that were referred to Chamran Heart Hospital
in Isfahan for angiography were involved in this study. Fifty‑nine subjects had coronary artery
obstruction (CAO) and 23 showed no obstruction after angiography. The severity of CAO was
assessed. Periodontal parameters including pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (R), clinical
attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) of all subjects were recorded. The
decayed‑missing‑filled (DMF) index of all subjects was also measured. For statistical analysis, Pearson
correlation test, Chi‑square, and independent t‑test were used.
Results: There were significant positive correlation between variables R, PD, CAL, decayed (D),
missing (M), DMF, BOP, and degree of CAO. However, there were no significant differences between
filling variable degree of CAO (left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery).
Independent t‑test showed that the mean of variables R, PD, AL, D, M, and DMF in patients with
obstructed arteries were significantly higher than subjects without CAO. But there were no
significant differences between variable F in two groups.
Conclusion: The results of this cross‑section analytical study showed an association between
periodontal disease and dental parameters with the severity of CAO measured by angiography.
However, this association must not interpret as a cause and effect relationship.
Key Words: Angiography, association, coronary artery obstruction, periodontal disease