Periodontal impact in acute myocardial infarction: A comparative study using Russell's periodontal index

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a leading global cause of mortality, with emerging evidence linking periodontal disease to cardiovascular risk through systemic inflammatory pathways. Hence, this comparative cross-sectional study evaluated periodontal status using the Russell Periodontal Index (RPI) in 90 AMI patients versus 90 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. AMI patients exhibited significantly higher mean RPI scores (4.82 ± 1.94) compared to controls (1.76 ± 1.23; p < 0.001), with 71.1% showing moderate-to-severe periodontal disease. Multivariate regression analysis confirmed severe periodontal disease as an independent AMI predictor (OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.67-4.98) after adjusting for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. These findings advance cardio-periodontology by establishing oral health assessment as a critical component of comprehensive cardiovascular risk stratification and preventive care.