Correlation between inflammatory periodontal diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
OBJECTIVE
Since cardiovascular diseases can exhibit a possible connection with chronic periodontal diseases, the aim of the present study was to examine the presence of periodontal impairment in patients with coronary heart diseases (CHD).


METHODS
For this purpose periodontal charts were raised for 101 patients (78 male, 23 female, mean age 61.8 +/- 10.5 years) with cardiovascular diseases; comparison was drawn between theses charts and those for a control group of 101 healthy patients (59 male, 42 female, mean age 56.6 +/- 9.9 years). Over and above the dental diagnosis (probing depth [mm], vitality, tooth mobility, plaque index (PI), inclination towards sulcus bleeding) each related to 6 characteristic teeth, various habitual aspects (diet, smoke and drink patterns, stress, body weight) were recorded.


RESULTS
Within the CHD-group the periodontal chart revealed for all teeth examined a mean probing depth of 3.4 +/- 1.1mm, with the corresponding reading for the control group being 2.8 +/- 0.9 mm. The mean bleeding index (Van-der-Weiden) read 1.1 +/- 0.7 for the CHD-group and 0.7 +/- 0.6 for the control group. The mean plaque index reading was 1.4 +/- 0.9 for the group suffering from heart diseases and 0.7 +/- 0.8 for the control group. Comparison of these periodontal charts showed statistically significant differences (p<= 0.01), whereas mean degrees of tooth mobility did not differ in a statistically significant way. In summary, the results described hint at a correlation between an existent coronary heart disease and the presence of a periodontitis.


CONCLUSIONS
However, also for consideration below are further influential factors, such as diet, individual life conduct, smoking habits, Body-Mass-Index or microbiological aspects.
Willershausen
B
B
Department for Operative Dentistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. willersh@mail.uni-mainz.de
Krahwinkel
T
T
Valentinis
L
L
Todt
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology