PERIODONTAL DISEASE AS A RISK FACTOR OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN ADULT PATIENTS VISITING AYDER COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL.

Background: Oral health is an integral component of general health and well-being of an individual. A chronic bacterial oral disease such as periodontitis has been considered as a separate risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and peripheral arterial disease. The possible pathways linking oral infections to systemic diseases are metastatic infections, bacterial endotoxins, and systemic vascular injury. Objective: the aim of this present study was to evaluate an association between clinical parameters of periodontal disease and cardiovascular diseases in adult patients visiting Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Method and Materials: a total 50 patients, 26 males and 24 females aged 40 to 79 years were selected for the study. Information concerning with various cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart attack and cardiac arrhythmia were collected. Clinical parameters of periodontal disease were recorded like gingival index(GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and clinical attachment at six sites on each tooth (facial, lingual, distolingual, mesiolingual, distofacial and mesiofacial). The severity of gingivitis was also measured. Result: A significant association between gingival inflammation (RR =11.25), CAL (RR=14.67), BOP (RR=14.67), PPD (RR=11.25) and ACVD was found, whereas no association was found between periodontal disease indices and HA. Conclusion: Serological differences in subjects with periodontitis, some of which involve established risk factors for atherosclerosis, might provide insight into the reported epidemiological association between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]