Bidirectional link between periodontitis and systemic inflammation in diabetic retinopathy

Periodontitis is independently associated with numerous lifestyle diseases. Diabetic patients have approximately threefold increased odds of periodontitis, which in turn increases the risk of systemic inflammation. The study by Thazhe Poyil et al is an effort to establish the inflammatory link between diabetic re-tinopathy (DR) and periodontitis based on the periodontal inflamed surface area in diabetic patients with and without DR. To further advance the study, we suggest refining the eligibility criteria to explicitly state the clinical correlates of periodontitis and DR, larger sample size and improved sampling methodology, matching of baseline characteristics of the two groups, as well as improved statistical approach and interpretation of the study findings. Measurement of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in studies comparing type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with DR of matched severity with and without periodontitis could provide a clearer picture of whether HbA1c level is indeed influenced by periodontitis.