Does Periodontitis Reflect Atherosclerosis in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?

Methods: One hundred and ten CAPD patients were included in this study to evaluate clinical periodontal status by using the Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index(GI), and Periodontal Disease Index (PDI). Values for nutritional, inflammatory markers and atherosclerotic risk factors were included for analysis with the periodontal index. Anova, postoc Tukey HSD, Univariate and Multivariate Linear Regression analysis, Pearson Correlation analysis and Chi-square analysis were used in the evaluation of the data.

Results: Poor oral health status was shown by 85,5% of our CAPD patients with periodontal disease. In analysis, we found that age and longer dialysis duration were associated with severity of periodontitis. Parameters of malnutrition, inflammation and atherosclerotic risk factors were also associated with poor periodontal status. Then we carried out multiple regression analysis and found that age, albumin level and duration of dialysis were associated independently with severity of periodontitis in CAPD patients. According to the severity of the periodontitis, there were higher percentiles of patients with malnutrition (x2 = 59.4; p<0.001), inflammation (x2=60; p<0.001) and atherosclerosis (x2 = 65.6; p<0.001) in the severe group.

Conclusions: Periodontal health is poor in CAPD patients and correlates with markers of malnutriton, inflammation and atherosclerosis. Its diagnosis and treatment deserve better awareness.