Association between periodontitis and the main components of metabolic syndrome

Abstract

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide, and it
appears to increase independently the risk of cardiovascular disease. Periodontitis has
been shown to have an association with the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the association between periodontal
status and the main components of metabolic syndrome, singly, and in combination in
type 2 diabetic patients.
One hundred and seventy five patients (96 males and 79 females) with type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were enrolled in the study. The following clinical
characteristics were reported: age and gender, body mass index (BMI) and blood
pressure. Periodontal status was assessed using periodontal disease index which
includes plaque, calculus, and periodontal component of the index. An assessment of
serum lipid analytes included estimation of serum triglycerides (TG) and serum high
density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
There was a significant difference in mean value of periodontal disease index
(PDI) between normotensive and hypertensive diabetic patients (3.31±0.83 vs.
3.82±0.65, P<0.001). Also there was a significant difference in PDI between normal
and high TG groups (3.49±0.73 vs. 3.81±0.61, P<0.01). There was a significant
increase in TG level in hypertensive compared to normotensive diabetic patients
(P<0.01). Only in presence of hypertension and obesity in addition to diabetes that
PDI was significantly increased in comparison with diabetic hypertensive non obese
patients (4.1±0.58 vs. 3.62±0.64, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in
TG level between obese and non obese diabetic patients while there was a significant
increase in TG level in patients who were hypertensive obese compared to
normotensive non obese (174.64 ±61.39 vs. 150.80±54.96 respectively, P<0.05).
Presence of two or more characteristics of MetS has resulted in a significant increase
of PDI when compared with patients who had only diabetes (P<0.001).
In conclusion, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia as main components of
MetS are singly associated with periodontitis in T2DM and the presence of any two
studied components of MetS in addition to diabetes will attain the worst deterioration
in periodontal status.