Relationship of metabolic syndrome to chronic periodontitis

Many studies have suggested that periodontal disease is related to metabolic disorders. Few studies have investigated metabolic syndrome (MS), as defined by the International Diabetes Federation in 2005, in the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to assess the association of periodontitis with MS.

In this case-control study, 152 patients with MS and 56 generally healthy adults received a comprehensive clinical dental examination. Attachment loss, probing depth, bleeding index, and plaque index were examined at two sites per tooth (mesio-buccal and disto-lingual). The number of missing teeth was noted in each subject.

The male patients with MS were significantly younger and their periodontal parameters were significantly higher than those of the healthy group. The female patients with MS were significantly older, and all periodontal parameters were higher than those in the healthy group; only plaque index was statistically significantly different (P = 0.001). After adjustment for gender, age, and smoking, the corresponding adjusted odds ratios for MS were 6.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07 to 44.77), 9.9 (95% CI: 1.50 to 65.24), and 15.6 (95% CI: 2.20 to 110.43) for subjects with attachment loss > or = 3 mm in >0% to 33% of sites, >33% to 67% of sites, and >67% of sites, respectively. Most periodontal parameters were highest in patients with four components of MS, but these differences were not statistically significant.

Patients with MS had poor periodontal conditions, and periodontal disease was associated with MS, independent of other risk factors.