Cross-sectional study of periodontal status in healthy persons and those with coronary artery disease

ABSTRACT

Infections and among them extravascular infection may cause atherosclerosis and provoke their complication. Some evidence suggests that dental infections and periodontal disease are involved in pathogenesis of coronary artery disease. Patients were chosen from private cardiology clinic. In this double blind controlled cross-sectional study, patients were in two groups. Those who had CAD* by given criteria, and those in non-CAD group. Periodontal examinations were performed by periodontologist in a blind manner. Of 250 subjects screened and examined by cardiologist, 39 agreed and presented for dental examinations, of whom 10 were edentulous, and 29 were dentate. Of dentate subjects 11 had CAD and 18 were free of CAD. For all periodontal parameters, greater values were recorded for CAD group, indicating a more severe periodontal disease among CAD subjects as compared to non-CAD group. CAD subjects showed a significantly greater level of dental plaque accumulation as compared to non-CAD group [P=0.004]. Percentage of edentulous subjects was greater among CAD subjects than non-CAD subjects. All periodontal parameters were not significantly greater, among CAD patients than non-CAD control subjects, suggesting no association between poor periodontal status and coronary artery disease. Further studies are needed