Does periodontal infection have an effect on severe asthma in adults?
BACKGROUND
The effect of periodontal infection on systemic diseases and conditions has been the subject of numerous studies worldwide. It is considered that periodontitis may influence the hyperinflammatory response in patients with severe asthma as a result of immuno-inflammatory changes. This study aims to evaluate the influence of periodontitis on severe asthma in adults.


METHODS
A case-control study was carried out, comprising 220 adult individuals: 113 diagnosed with asthma (case group) and 107 without asthma diagnosis (control group). The diagnosis of periodontitis was established after a full clinical examination using probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing. The diagnosis of severe asthma was based on the criteria recommended by the Global Initiative of Asthma (2012). Descriptive analyses of the variables were performed, followed by bivariate analyses, using the χ(2) test. Association measurements (odds ratio [OR]), with and without adjustment for potential confounders, were obtained. A significance level of 5% was used.


RESULTS
The ORunadjusted for the main association was 4.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.47 to 7.75). In the logistic regression model, after adjusting for age, education level, osteoporosis, smoking habit, and body mass index, the ORadjusted was 4.82 (95% CI = 2.66 to 8.76), which was statistically significant. Individuals with periodontal infection showed, approximately, five times more likelihood to have bronchial inflammation than those without such periodontal tissue infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings demonstrate the influence of periodontitis on severe asthma, given that the frequency of periodontitis is higher in individuals with severe asthma than in those without a diagnosis of bronchial inflammation.
Department of Health, Feira de Santana State University, Bahia, Brazil.
Isaac Suzart
IS
Gomes-Filho
Kaliane Rocha
KR
Soledade-Marques
Simone
S
Seixas da Cruz
Johelle
J
de Santana Passos-Soares
Soraya Castro
SC
Trindade
Adelmir
A
Souza-Machado
Izabel Regina
IR
Fischer Rubira-Bullen
Eneida
E
de Moraes Marcílio Cerqueira
Maurício Lima
ML
Barreto
Teresinha
T
Costa de Santana
Julita Maria
JM
Freitas Coelho
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000150:complications; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D012907:Smoking; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
Asthma; bronchial diseases; epidemiology; oral medicine; periodontal diseases; periodontitis