Periodontal Disease Prevalence Among Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Regional Hospital in Uganda

The prevalence and associated factors of periodontal diseases remain scantily established in Uganda, especially in rural southwestern Uganda. Therefore, this cross-sectional study determined the prevalence and associated factors of periodontal disease among patients attending a diabetic clinic in a referral hospital in rural southwestern Uganda.

This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among 336 patients with diabetes attending a diabetic clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH). A consecutive sampling technique was employed to enroll study participants. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant. The prevalence of periodontal disease was determined using the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Assessment form for adults and categorized as gingivitis, mild periodontitis, and severe periodontitis. Community Periodontal Index (CPI) scores were determined and presented as percentages.

A high prevalence of periodontal disease was recorded at 92.3%. About half of the participants (50.9%) had severe periodontitis, and only 7.7% of the participants had normal periodontitis. Being female, attaining tertiary education, consuming alcohol, visiting a dental clinic twice a year, and brushing teeth twice a day reduced the odds of developing periodontal disease.

The findings of this study underscore the need for integrated oral health services within diabetic clinics, with particular emphasis on oral health education and periodontal screening, especially for male patients and those with lower educational attainment.