Periodontitis and stroke: A Mendelian randomization study.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Oral Health

Background:

• Periodontitis, a gum disease, is linked to ischemic stroke.
• The specific causal links between periodontitis subtypes and stroke remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between chronic periodontitis (CP) and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and ischemic stroke.
• To examine the association with specific ischemic stroke subtypes using Mendelian randomization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized large-scale genetic summary statistics from UK Biobank and GWAS.
• Employed Mendelian randomization and inverse variant weighted methods.
• Conducted comprehensive sensitivity analyses to ensure result robustness.

Main Results:

• Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) showed no causal association with ischemic stroke or its subtypes.
• Chronic periodontitis (CP) did not show a significant causal link to overall ischemic stroke.
• CP demonstrated a potential causal relationship with cardioembolic stroke (OR, 1.052; P = .042).

Conclusions:

• Chronic periodontitis may have a causal effect on cardioembolic stroke.
• No causal link was found between aggressive periodontitis and ischemic stroke.