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Robust Ligature-Induced Model of Murine Periodontitis for the Evaluation of Oral Neutrophils
Published on: January 21, 2020
Severe Periodontitis is Associated With Recurrent Cardiovascular Events-A 10-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Stefan Reichert1, Selina Rehm1, Axel Schlitt2,3
1Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
Insights
Severe periodontitis increases the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke. Maintaining good oral hygiene, such as brushing and interdental cleaning, can help reduce this risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Periodontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) poses a significant health burden.
- Periodontitis, a severe gum infection, is increasingly recognized for its systemic implications.
- Understanding the link between oral health and cardiovascular outcomes is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between severe periodontitis and recurrent cardiovascular events.
- To assess the impact of oral hygiene practices on cardiovascular event incidence.
- To provide evidence for integrated patient care considering both oral and cardiovascular health.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1002 patients with established CVD was followed for 10 years.
- Severe periodontitis was diagnosed based on specific clinical attachment loss criteria.
- Recurrent cardiovascular events included myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Cox regression adjusted for cardiac risk factors.
Main Results:
- Severe periodontitis was associated with a 26% increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular events (adjusted HR 1.26).
- Frequent tooth brushing (≥twice daily) reduced this risk (adjusted HR 0.74).
- Interdental hygiene practices also demonstrated a risk-reducing effect (adjusted HR 0.71).
Conclusions:
- Severe periodontitis is a potential risk factor for recurrent cardiovascular events.
- Good oral hygiene practices are associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events.
- These findings underscore the importance of addressing periodontitis in CVD management.
Aim:
The study aimed to elucidate a putative association between severe periodontitis and the incidence of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) within 10 years after their initial hospitalisation.
Methods:
A cohort of 1002 stationary patients with angiographically proven CVD was included. They were examined regarding prevalence of severe periodontitis (≥ 30% of the teeth with proximal attachment loss of ≥ 5 mm), probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, number of missing teeth and oral care habits. Recurrent events were summarised as combined end point (myocardial infarction, stroke/transitory ischemic attack, cardiovascular death and death caused by stroke). Survival analyses were carried out after a 10-year follow-up period. Hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted for known cardiac risk factors using Cox regression.
Results:
The follow-up was completed by 792 patients. The overall incidence of the combined end point was 42.8%. Severe periodontitis was associated with recurrent cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-1.58 and Standard error [SE] 0.11), whereas both, tooth brushing more than once a day (adjusted HR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57-0.97, SE 0.13) and performing interdental hygiene (adjusted HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.99, SE 0.16) decreased this risk.
Conclusions:
Severe periodontitis is a putative risk factor for recurrent cardiovascular events.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01045070.
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