ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PERIODONTITIS AND ITS INFLAMMATION WITH CARDIOVASCULAR, RESPIRATORY, AND POST-COVID CONDITIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2026v19i2.57517Keywords:
Periodontitis, Cardiovascular diseases, Respiratory tract infections, COVID-19,, Comorbidities,, Case–control studies, InflammationAbstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the demographic profile, comorbidity burden, and systemic associations of chronic periodontitis with cardiovascular, respiratory, and post-COVID conditions in comparison with healthy controls.
Methods: A case–control study was conducted among 130 participants, comprising 100 patients with clinically diagnosed chronic periodontitis and 30 periodontally healthy controls. Data on sociodemographic variables, periodontal parameters, and systemic conditions were collected through structured clinical and laboratory assessments. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables.
Results: Cases and controls were comparable in age and gender distribution (p>0.05), though patients with periodontitis more often belonged to lower socioeconomic and educational strata (p<0.05). Comorbidity analysis revealed that 72% of periodontitis patients exhibited at least one systemic condition compared to 40% in controls (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5–8.7, p=0.004; adjusted for socioeconomic status, smoking, and diabetes). Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were present in 38% of cases versus 20% in controls (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0–6.2, p=0.048; adjusted OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.9–5.8, p=0.07). Respiratory conditions in 32% versus 17% (OR 2.3, 95% CI 0.8–6.5, p=0.12; adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.7–6.2, p=0.18), and post-COVID sequelae in 28% versus 10% (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.0–12.3, p=0.05; adjusted OR 3.2, 95% CI 0.9–11.5, p=0.07). Notably, 16% of patients had all three comorbidities versus 0% in controls (p=0.02 by Fisher’s exact test; multinomial regression p<0.05, adjusted OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.1–16.0, p=0.035). The observed prevalences exceed general population estimates like CVD ~20–30%, respiratory ~10–15%, and post-COVID ~5–10%. While not statistically significant across all comparisons, the trends underscore the cumulative burden of systemic diseases in patients with periodontitis.
Conclusion: This study suggests potential associations between chronic periodontitis and clustering of cardiovascular, respiratory, and post-COVID conditions, highlighting a need for further investigation. It may act as a systemic inflammatory amplifier through shared mechanisms like sustained cytokine storms or endothelial injury. These findings highlight the potential need for and benefits of integrated oral and systemic health strategies in both preventive and therapeutic frameworks.
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