The association between periodontal disease parameters and severity of atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerosis is the most common cause for heart attack and stroke. In the last decade, several epidemiological studies have found an association between periodontal infection and atherosclerosis. The aim of this research was to determine the possible association between chronic periodontal disease and severity of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Eighty-two subjects that were referred to Chamran Heart Hospital in Isfahan for angiography were involved in this study. Fifty-nine subjects had coronary artery obstruction (CAO) and 23 showed no obstruction after angiography. The severity of CAO was assessed. Periodontal parameters including pocket depth (PD), gingival recession (R), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) of all subjects were recorded. The decayed-missing-filled (DMF) index of all subjects was also measured. For statistical analysis, Pearson correlation test, Chi-square, and independent t-test were used.


RESULTS
There were significant positive correlation between variables R, PD, CAL, decayed (D), missing (M), DMF, BOP, and degree of CAO. However, there were no significant differences between filling variable degree of CAO (left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery). Independent t-test showed that the mean of variables R, PD, AL, D, M, and DMF in patients with obstructed arteries were significantly higher than subjects without CAO. But there were no significant differences between variable F in two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this cross-section analytical study showed an association between periodontal disease and dental parameters with the severity of CAO measured by angiography. However, this association must not interpret as a cause and effect relationship.
Department of Periodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Isalmic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran; Visiting Professor, Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Mohammad
M
Ketabi
Department of Oral Diseases, Faculty of Dentistry, Isalmic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran.
Fatemeh Rashidi
FR
Meybodi
Dentist.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Asgari
Angiography; association; coronary artery obstruction; periodontal disease