title: Higher prevalence of periodontitis in patients with refractory arterial hypertension: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the association of periodontitis with refractory arterial hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 137 patients were examined. Seventy patients (mean age of 55.2 ± 9.2 years) were included in the case group, while 67 non-hypertensive subjects (mean age of 50.0 ± 7.2) served as a control group. Periodontal clinical examination included plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Patients with at least five sites with CAL ≥6 mm were considered as severe periodontitis, and with at least 30% of the sites with CAL ≥4 mm generalized chronic periodontitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (±s.d.) number and percentage of sites with CAL ≥6 mm were 11 (±14) and 16.6 (±14) in the case group, and 5.7 (±9.5) and 5.8 (±9.7) in the control group (P  < 0.05). The mean (±s.d.) percentage of sites with CAL ≥4 mm was 37 (±29.6) in the case group and 21.2 (±20) in the control group (P  < 0.05). The significant associations with arterial hypertension were severe chronic periodontitis (OR = 4.04, 95% CI: 1.92; 8.49) and generalized chronic periodontitis (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.04; 4.56).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe and generalized chronic periodontitis seem to play a role as risk indicators for hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Odontology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: C M S
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cordovil
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000145:classification; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents