Periodontal Status of Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to assess a potential relationship between cardiovascular risk profile and chronic periodontitis (CM) during the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI). Material/Methods: The study included 417 patients aged under 70 years with diagnosed and invasively managed MI. Blood samples were collected for laboratory parameters, including plasma cholesterol, glucose, CRP, fibrinogen and NTproBNP levels. The clinical evaluation of periodontal status included plaque index (PI), extent of gingival inflammation (BoP), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and community periodontal index (CPI). Results: Moderate periodontitis (CPI-3) was found in 34.6% of subjects and severe periodontitis (CPI-4) in 45.5% of studied patients. The average number of preserved teeth was 16 and it was significantly lower in patients with diabetes (DM). Mutual risk factors, such as age, gender, smoking, arterial hypertension and DM, were very common. Worse periodontal status was associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and with the first MI. Moreover, patients with signs of periodontitis presented significantly higher total cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol and hsCRP levels. Patients with LDL <80mg/dl presented the best periodontal status when compared to the other groups. Conclusions: The prevalence of CP among patients with acute MI was very high, and it was associated with history of previous MI, PAD, smoking, DM, TC, LDL and hsCRP concentrations. This study pinpointed interplays between CP and cardiovascular events.