Systemic diseases among patients with and without alveolar bone loss

Area of Science:

• Oral Health and Systemic Disease Linkages
• Periodontology and Public Health

Background:

• Growing evidence suggests a connection between periodontal health and general health.
• Alveolar bone loss is a key indicator of periodontal disease severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of common systemic diseases in patients with and without alveolar bone loss.
• Investigate the association between periodontal status and systemic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases, arthritis, and allergies.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 420 adults (≥18 years) was analyzed.
• Data included self-reported systemic diseases, demographics, smoking status, and periodontal parameters (alveolar bone level, teeth present).
• Statistical analyses employed Chi-square, Student t test, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Moderate to severe alveolar bone loss was significantly associated with higher prevalence of hypertension, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and arthritis.
• Hypertension and diabetes remained significant even after adjusting for confounding factors.
• Subjects with moderate to severe alveolar bone loss were four times more likely to have three or more systemic conditions.

Conclusions:

• Moderate to severe alveolar bone loss is linked to an increased prevalence of systemic diseases.
• Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are notably more common in individuals with significant alveolar bone loss.