Impact of periodontitis on diabetic complications

Background + Aims

• Periodontitis, a severe inflammatory condition of the gums, is more common in individuals living with diabetes.
• Poor glycaemic management in individuals living with diabetes can worsen periodontitis and increase systemic inflammation, contributing to cardiovascular risks.
• Chronic periodontitis has been linked to increased left ventricular mass (LVM) and higher blood pressure in the general population, but limited data exist for people with type 2 diabetes.
• This study aimed to assess the relationship between periodontal status (healthy, gingivitis, or periodontitis), LVM, and blood pressure in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Materials + Methods

• The study included 155 participants with type 2 diabetes (aged 61.1 years on average) categorised into three groups:
  • Biofilm–gingival interface healthy (BGI-H)
  • Gingivitis (BGI-G)
  • Periodontitis (BGI-P)
• Exclusion criteria included smoking and non-periodontal infections.
• Dental examinations assessed periodontal pocket depth and bleeding on probing to classify participants.
• Cardiovascular assessments included:
  • Left ventricular mass (LVM) via echocardiography
  • Central and systemic blood pressure using automated devices
• Statistical analysis accounted for confounding factors like age, BMI, and antihypertensive medication.

Results

• Participants with periodontitis had:
  • Higher LVM (238.6 g) compared to those with gingivitis (222.8 g) and healthy periodontium (170.3 g).
  • Higher central and systemic blood pressure.
• A significant correlation was observed between inflammatory markers and periodontal severity.
• Gingivitis also increased LVM but had no significant impact on blood pressure.
• No causal link was established between periodontitis and cardiovascular outcomes due to the study’s cross-sectional design.

Limitations