Assessment of the Relationship between Periodontitis and Cardiac Parameters in Patients with Early Chronic Heart...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Periodontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Periodontal disease (PD) is a known cardiovascular risk factor.
• The specific link between PD and chronic heart failure (CHF) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiac and inflammatory markers in CHF patients with and without periodontitis.
• To explore potential associations between periodontal status and heart function.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 58 CHF patients, categorizing them into periodontitis (PG) and non-periodontitis (NPG) groups.
• Measured periodontal screening and recording (PSR), cardiac biomarkers (troponin T, NT-proBNP), inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), cardiac function (EF, ventricular parameters), and used questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Higher NT-proBNP and troponin T levels were observed in the PG group.
• Worse left ventricular systolic and diastolic function parameters were found in the PG group.
• Age was the sole independent risk factor for both periodontitis and cardiac biomarkers; no significant differences in inflammatory markers or cardiocirculatory parameters were noted between groups.

Conclusions:

• Periodontitis may be associated with poorer cardiac function and elevated cardiac biomarkers in CHF patients.
• Periodontitis represents a potentially modifiable risk factor for CHF, with treatment possibly mitigating inflammatory burden.