The Prevalence and Severity of Periodontitis in Patients Diagnosed with Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Background and aims: According to World Health Organization (WHO), estimating 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), representing 31% of all global deaths. An estimated 7.4 million were due to coronary heart disease (CAD). Our aim of this study was to determine a possible relationship between periodontitis and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease patients.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done at the department of cardiology, King Khalid University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Study population consisted of 100 patients who underwent angiography and have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Population was further categorized into low risk (40% patients) and high risk (60% patients) based on the angiography results. Patients were handed self-administered questionnaires to obtain socio-demographic data. Afterwards, periodontal charting was done by examining the patients to determine their periodontal attachment level.

Discussion: The small sample size of patients due to restricted exclusion criteria limited the chance of finding statistically significant relationship, also the CAD classification according to Risk stratification instable angina need a large number of subjects to determine statistical measures.

Results: 100 diagnosed patients with Atherosclerotic CAD, included in the study, 19 (55%) had high risk atherosclerotic CAD and 15 (45%) had low risk atherosclerotic CAD. Atherosclerosis patients with High Risk are 1.35 times more likely to have severe CAL comparing with Low Risk patients (OR=1.35, 95%CI (0.343 ,5.315, P-value=0.6)

Conclusions: With increasing prevalence of Atherosclerosis in Saudi Arabia, patients with Atherosclerotic CAD should be screened for periodontitis and preventive oral health care should become part of the regular care for improvement of overall quality of life in these patients.