Risk factors of severe periodontitis in kidney transplant recipients: A case-control study

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) represent a vulnerable group of patients who develop a number of comorbidities. Severe periodontitis (SP) is associated with the most common chronic systemic diseases including kidney diseases. The objective of this study was to explore the risk factors for SP in KTRs.

In this study, KTRs were divided into those with or without periodontitis and in relation to the severity of periodontitis. A comprehensive medical and periodontal examination was performed and evaluated. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine possible risk factors for SP among KTRs.

A total of 100 KTRs were included in the analysis, of which 87% had periodontitis. Significant predictors of periodontitis were older age (OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.01, 1.13], p = 0.016) and lower skeletal muscle mass (OR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.78, 0.99], p = 0.035). When examining periodontitis severity, predictors of SP (n = 21, 24%) were increased levels of uric acid (OR = 1.01, 95% CI [1.00, 1.02], p = 0.022) and dental plaque (OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.01, 1.07], p = 0.013). In the subset analysis that included only KTRs with measured advanced glycation end products (AGE) (n = 47), 34% (n = 16) had SP. The predictors of SP were AGE (OR = 3.89, 95% CI [1.28, 11.82], p = 0.017) and dental plaque (OR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.01, 1.13], p = 0.028).

KTRs with SP had significantly higher uric acid levels and AGE, which may contribute to the systemic health status of this patient population.