Lipid Profile and the Severity of Periodontitis among Tertiary Hospital Patients in a Semi-Urban Population in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of hyperlipidemia among Nigerians is established, while the relationship between it and periodontitis has been studied globally. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lipid profile and severity of periodontitis among Nigerians. 195 patients were drawn from the family medicine clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife Osun state Nigeria. Sociodemographic data was obtained using a closed-ended questionnaire, simplified oral hygiene index (OHI), periodontal disease index (PDI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) were also estimated. A full mouth mean CAL ≥0.6mm was considered as periodontitis. Lipid profile was carried out at the chemical pathology department of the same institution by spectrophotometry. Appropriate parameters were determined for descriptive variables. A two-way t-test was done for the mean values of the intraoral and the lipid parameters. Data was exposed to logistic regression to eliminate confounders. Male to female ratio was 1:1.6 with a mean age of 37.42±12.95. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides have a statistically significant relationship with CAL and PPD (p<0.05). Logistic regression showed statistical significance for total cholesterol (p<0.05) in females only. Following the trend with other associated chronic diseases, HDL was higher in the periodontally healthy subjects and those with mild chronic periodontitis, while it was lower in those with moderate and severe chronic periodontitis. This relationship was inverse for low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Increase in LDL/HDL had a linear relationship with the severity of chronic periodontitis from mild to severe. This emphasises the need for oral health education in the community and regular lipid investigations.