title: Is periodontitis an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the interrelationship between periodontitis and atherosclerosis by comparing the ultrasound and clinical markers of atherosclerosis in systemically healthy patients with and without periodontitis and whether periodontitis can be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total 40 subjects, of same socioeconomic status, belonging to age group of 35-65 years, were recruited and divided into two groups - Group I (Chronic Generalised Periodontitis without any systemic disease: CP-SH), Group II (Normal healthy patients without periodontitis and any systemic disease - SH). Clinical measurements and ultrasound examinations were carried out. Qualitative variables were analyzed using Chi square test and qualitative variables using Unpaired Student t test. Statistical significance was accepted for p≤0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carotid ultrasound revealed right and left intima media thickness (IMT) of 0.626±0.016mm and 0.715±0.037mm respectively in cases versus 0.495±0.009mm and 0.518±0.009mm respectively in controls, with the difference being statistically significant. In cases, mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 83.45±4.07mmHg versus 79.25±3.63mmHg in controls, with the difference being statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we found statistically significant differences in carotid IMT and DBP values between cases and controls. These findings suggest independent role of periodontal disease in subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, 462036, Gandhinagar, Bhopal. Electronic address: khatri.richa44@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khatri
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, 462036, Gandhinagar, Bhopal. Electronic address: jeevandeshmukh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeevanand
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, 462036, Gandhinagar, Bhopal. Electronic address: ratika.kishore@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ratika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, 462036, Gandhinagar, Bhopal. Electronic address: saurabhsirji@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Rishiraj College of Dental Sciences & Research Centre, 462036, Gandhinagar, Bhopal. Electronic address: dentistabhishek@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawadkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore. Electronic address: vinayakumar53@gmail.com.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vinaya Kumar
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Chronic periodontitis; Diastolic blood pressure; Intima media thickness