Association between periodontitis and severe asthma in adults: A case-control study

To evaluate the association between periodontitis and severe asthma, with participants in treatment for severe asthma, controlled by therapy.

A case-control investigation was performed to compare 130 adults with severe asthma with 130 without asthma. Individuals with periodontitis were those with ≥4 teeth with ≥1 site with probing depth ≥4 mm, clinical attachment level ≥3 mm, and bleeding upon probing at the same site. Severe asthma diagnosis was based on Global Initiative for Asthma criteria.

Association between exposure to periodontitis and severe asthma was found: OR_crude  = 2.98 (95% CI: 1.74-5.11). When confounders were considered, the association between exposure to periodontitis and severe asthma was maintained: OR_adjusted  = 3.01-3.25. Individuals with periodontitis had about a threefold increased risk of severe asthma than those without periodontitis. Frequency of periodontitis in participants with severe asthma was greater than that of those without asthma (46.6% vs 22.3%, p ≤ .05).

Association between periodontitis and severe asthma was observed. Further investigation is required to determine the direction of this relationship. It may be causal, but it may also be a consequence of the immunopathological process that characterizes asthma, or else, consequence of the medication used for treatment.