Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association of periodontitis and Myocardial Infarction (MI) and contributes as a potential risk factor for its incidence. Methodology: This multi-centre, case-control study enrolled 125 participants. Case group comprising of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) = 55, control group consisting of non – AMI = 70. Both groups were assessed for presence of periodontitis along with specific risk factors that were recorded in a modified proforma comprising of questions pertaining to demographics, oral hygiene practices and oral eating habits. Chi-square test was used to assess association and p-value was considered significant at ≤0.05. Results: Periodontitis was found to be prevalent in 71% of Myocardial Infarction (MI) patients with an OR 4.125 (95% CI, 1.934 - 8.797) as compared to 37% in Control (non-Myocardial Infarct). Increasing age, male gender, illiteracy, unemployment/retirement, low socio-economic status, being overweight, no dental visits, and smoking (both duration & frequency) were found to be statistically significantly associated with occurrence of periodontitis and myocardial infarction in the study. Conclusion: Periodontitis was found to be prevalent among the MI patients suggesting a causal link between these two conditions that can be reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle, refraining from smoking, good oral hygiene and visiting a dentist for regular check-up.
Highlights
Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases are two of the most chronic, prevalent and debilitating conditions that are of public health concern worldwide
Fifty-five of these were recruited to the case group and 70 participants, age and gender matched to the control group (Non-Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) & Healthy individuals)
The majority of participants i.e. 39 (71%) suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in case group were found positive for Periodontitis as opposed to only 26 (37%) of healthy/non-AMI participants of control group
Summary
Periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases are two of the most chronic, prevalent and debilitating conditions that are of public health concern worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases have been predicted to be the foremost cause of mortality by year 2030.4 According to Global Burden of Disease, less than 80% of deaths, observed in lowand middle-income countries, were due to acute myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD), while prevalence of same was about 25% in the West.[5] Pakistan is currently facing a near epidemic of CVDs, validated by about a quarter (25%) of its middle-aged adults exposed to CVD risk factors.[6] Cardiovascular diseases are a group of chronic and systemic inflammatory diseases with multiplex etiology. Myocardial infarction has been defined as the death of cardiac cells, largely due to disruption of the atherosclerotic plaque. This causes coronary artery spasm, micro dysfunction, and coronary embolism etc. This causes coronary artery spasm, micro dysfunction, and coronary embolism etc. leading to thrombosis and/or prolonged reduced myocardial perfusion known as acute myocardial ischemia progressing to myocardial cell death.[7]
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