Prevalence of Periapical Lesions in Patients with Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major systemic disease that can significantly deteriorate the quality of life of the affected individuals. It is more common in women, particularly after menopause. Osteoporosis may be associated with alterations in oral health. Treatment of osteoporotic patients mainly involves the administration of bisphosphonates (BPs). Nitrogen-containing BPs are more potent therapeutically and more commonly used. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of periapical lesions in patients with osteoporosis and to evaluate the difference in the prevalence of periapical lesions in patients treated with alendronate and risedronate, 2 nitrogen-containing types of BPs.

Integrated data of hospital patients were used. Data from the corresponding diagnosis codes for osteoporosis and periapical periodontitis were retrieved by searching the appropriate query in the database. The odds ratio (OR) of periapical lesions, its association with osteoporosis, and the use of 2 BP medications were calculated and analyzed statistically.

Of 1,644,953 hospital patients, 8715 presented with periapical lesions. A total of 42,292 patients were diagnosed with osteoporosis. A total of 754 patients diagnosed with osteoporosis presented with periapical lesions. The prevalence of periapical lesions in patients with osteoporosis was 1.78% compared with 0.52% in the general patient population of the hospital. The OR for the prevalence of periapical lesions in patients with osteoporosis was 3.36 and was statistically significant (P < .0001). Patients with osteoporosis treated with any type of BPs showed a prevalence of periapical lesions in 1.25% of cases compared with 0.52% in the general patient population of the hospital. The difference in the OR was statistically significant (P < .0001). The OR for the presence of periapical lesions in the osteoporosis group treated with BPs was 2.35 compared with 3.52 in the osteoporosis group not treated with BP. The difference in the OR was statistically significant (P < .0001). Patients treated with alendronate showed an OR of 1.6 for the prevalence of periapical lesions, and the difference in the OR was statistically significant (P < .0001). Patients treated with risedronate showed an OR of 1.34 for the prevalence of periapical lesions, and the difference in the OR was not statistically significant (P = .3502).

Under the conditions of this study, it appears that the prevalence of periapical lesions is significantly higher in osteoporotic patients. Osteoporotic patients treated with BPs showed a marked reduction in the prevalence of periapical lesions, especially when risedronate was used.