Association of periodontitis with lipid profile: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this updated version of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the association of PD with lipid profile.

A comprehensive literature search was done in electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus until August 2021. Cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies investigating the relationship between PD and lipid profile were included. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by two investigators. A random-effect model was used to pool the effect size. Odds ratio (OR) was used as effect size for the association of PD with Hyperlipidemia, and SMD was used for the association of PD with the mean level of lipid profile.

Overall, 34 documents met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review, and 31 were included for the meta-analysis. Sixteen studies were cross-sectional, 16 case-control, and two cohorts. Results of the random effect model showed that PD increased the odds of dyslipidemia by 15% (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.26). The Association of PD with low HDL, high LDL, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesteremia was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The mean level of HDL in patients with PD was significantly lower than in subjects without PD (SMD: -0.69, 95% CI: -1.11, -0.26). Moreover, the mean level of LDL, TC, TG in patients with PD was significantly higher than in subjects without PD (P < 0.05).

This meta-analysis suggests that periodontitis is associated with an increased odds of dyslipidemia. Therefore, treating periodontitis may improve dyslipidemia, particularly HDL and triglyceride levels.