Cardiovascular risks of periodontitis and oral hygiene indicators in patients with diabetes mellitus
There is increased risk of developing diabetes in patients with periodontitis due to interrupting glycaemic control. Furthermore, patients with diabetes have higher chances to develop periodontitis and poor oral hygiene as compare to patients without diabetes. The recent studies suggest that periodontitis and poor oral hygiene can lead to the development of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in the general population. However, there is insufficient data to suggest whether frequently found periodontitis and poor oral hygiene in diabetes can be risk factors for cardiovascular events in this population. Hence, Tae-Jin Song and colleagues conducted a study under title “Cardiovascular risks of periodontitis and oral hygiene indicators in patients with diabetes mellitus” published in the Diabetes & Metabolism journal. The summary of this study is given below:
Objective:
To investigate if periodontitis and poor oral hygiene can be an independent risk factors for either myocardial or cerebral infarction in the diabetes population.
Method:
This is retrospective cohort study conducted with 17,009 patients with diabetes who were the participants in a nationwide health-screening programme, including oral health examination organized during 2002–2003 in South Korea. Professional dentists have evaluated the presence of periodontitis, carious teeth, and tooth loss, and the number of tooth brushings per day was investigated through self-reported questionnaires. The main outcome was the development of cerebral or myocardial infarction as per International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.
Findings:
The study concludes that periodontitis and carious teeth which have high prevalence in patients with diabetes are associated with long-term cardiovascular events, particularly cerebral infarction. Additionally, early identification of periodontal disease and frequent tooth brushings as an preventive measure may be effective in reducing cardiovascular complications.
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