Periodontitis and atherosclerosis: an observational study

• Published in: Journal of periodontal research 2013-08, Vol.48 (4), p.452-457
• Main Authors: Pinho, M. Morado, Faria-Almeida, R., Azevedo, E., Conceição Manso, M., Martins, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Atherosclerosis - complications; Atherosclerosis - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Internal - diagnostic imaging; carotid disease; chronic periodontitis; Cohort Studies; Dental Plaque Index; Dentistry; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Periodontal Attachment Loss - classification; Periodontal Attachment Loss - complications; Periodontal Index; periodontal medicine; Periodontal Pocket - classification; Periodontal Pocket - complications; Periodontitis - classification; Periodontitis - complications; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - complications; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnostic imaging; Risk Factors; Smoking; Tunica Intima - diagnostic imaging; Tunica Media - diagnostic imaging; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0022-3484; 1600-0765
• DOI: 10.1111/jre.12026

Background Poor oral health has been related with cardiovascular diseases. Specifically, periodontitis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between the degree of carotid atherosclerosis and severity of periodontitis in a patient cohort. Methods Fifty adult patients receiving carotid duplex scans in a cerebral hemodynamics lab were included in the study. Ultrasound protocol included measurement of carotid intima–media thickness (IMT), which is a marker of atherosclerosis, and characterization of any atherosclerotic plaques in the cervical common and internal carotid arteries. Patients were divided into two main groups: the test group had IMT ≥ 1 mm or the presence of any carotid atherosclerotic plaque, and the control group had IMT