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Persistently raised C-reactive protein levels are associated with advanced periodontal disease
Gerard J Linden1, Kathy McClean, Ian Young
1Oral Science Research Centre, Queen's University, Belfast, UK. g.linden@qub.ac.uk
Insights
Advanced periodontitis and significant tooth loss are linked to elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in older European men. This association persists even after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Periodontology
- Biomarkers of Inflammation
- Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Background:
- Periodontitis and tooth loss are prevalent conditions in aging populations.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key inflammatory marker linked to various chronic diseases.
- Understanding the relationship between oral health and systemic inflammation is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between periodontitis and tooth loss with sustained high or low C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
- To examine this relationship in a homogeneous cohort of 60-70-year-old Western European men.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study in Northern Ireland screened men aged 60-70 for cardiovascular disease.
- Periodontal examinations and high-sensitivity CRP measurements were conducted over a 10-year interval.
- Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors (age, smoking, diabetes, BMI, socioeconomic status).
Main Results:
- A significant association was found between advanced periodontitis and elevated CRP levels (adjusted OR=2.49, p=0.02).
- High tooth loss was also significantly associated with elevated CRP (adjusted OR=2.17, p=0.008).
- Low threshold periodontitis did not show a significant association with CRP levels.
Conclusions:
- Advanced periodontitis is associated with elevated CRP levels in older European men, independent of cardiovascular risk factors.
- Significant tooth loss is also linked to higher CRP levels in this population.
- These findings highlight a potential connection between severe oral disease and systemic inflammation.
Objective:
The aim was to investigate whether there was an association between periodontitis or tooth loss in a homogeneous group of 60-70-year-old Western European men and either a sustained high or low level of C-reactive protein (CRP).
Material And Methods:
Men enrolled in a cohort study of cardiovascular disease in Northern Ireland were screened in 1990-1994 and rescreened in 2001-2004, when a periodontal examination was completed. High-sensitivity CRP was measured from fasting blood samples. There were 806 men with six or more teeth who had either a high level (>3 mg/l) or a lower level of CRP at both time points. Multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression with adjustment for possible confounders. Models were constructed with the CRP level as the outcome variable and various measures of periodontal status (low and high threshold periodontitis) or tooth loss as predictor variables. Confounders included in the analysis were known cardiovascular risk factors of age, smoking, diabetes, BMI and socioeconomic status.
Results:
There were 67 men who had a high value of CRP (>3 mg/l) and 739 men who had a CRP value
Conclusion:
There was an association between advanced periodontitis and elevated CRP levels as measured at two time points at a 10-year interval in the 60-70-year-old European males investigated. This association was adjusted for various cardiovascular risk factors. There was also an association between high levels of tooth loss and high CRP in the men studied.
