title: [Frequency and severity of periodontitis among patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Periodontitis may have a triggering and aggravating role of various medical conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the periodontal status in Chilean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), treated in a public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A trained professional conducted a periodontal examination in 40 patients with RA aged 23 to 73 years (85% women). When present, the severity of periodontitis and its relationship with gender, smoking, age, corticosteroids dose and AR activity were assessed. AR activity was evaluated using the Disease Activity Score Calculator for Rheumatoid Arthritis (DAS 28).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty five of the 40 patients had periodontitis and in 13, it was severe. Men, smokers, and older patients had more severe stages. Patients using higher doses of corticosteroids had lower severity of periodontitis. No relationship between the severity of periodontitis and AR activity was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Periodontitis is common and severe in patients with RA, and is influenced by gender, age, smoking and corticosteroid dose.
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ibáñez V
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreiro
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Valenzuela L
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giadalah
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaime
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jarpa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index