Methods: A cross-sectional study in which consecutive HIV positive patients were recruited from the HIV out-patient clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Age and gender matched HIV seronegative patients selected from the same clinic after voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) represented the control group. Exclusion criteria included diabetics, smokers, HAARTs therapy, pregnancy, and gingiva tissue modifying drugs. The CPITN and Oral Hygiene indices (OHI) were the periodontal indices used. The percentage number of CPITN sextants was determined for each group. The CD4 counts of HIV positive patients were recorded. Epi Info 2008 version 3.5.1 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: 225 subjects (110 HIV positive, 115 HIV negative) participated in the study. HIV positive patients had 76 (69.1%) females and 34 (30.9%) males. Mean age of HIV patients was 35.4 ± 10.2 (age range 19-72 years). HIV positive patients had greater number of CPITN sextants with codes 3 and 4 (19.7% and 2.1% respectively) than controls (14.1% and 0.6% respectively). The HIV positive group also had less number of sextants with code 0 (15.3%) than controls (26.5%). These differences were statistically significant (P< 0.00001). There was no significant difference in the oral hygiene index score between the two groups. The mean CD4 count was not significantly associated with the severity of periodontitis.
Conclusion: HIV positive patients may present with more severe periodontitis than uninfected individuals. Thus, they stand to benefit more from early periodontal screening and intervention to prevent progression of the disease. Regular oral prophylaxis particularly among newly diagnosed patients should be a part of HIV treatment protocol.