Arterial stiffness and pulse wave reflection are increased in patients suffering from severe periodontitis

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 1;9(8):e103449. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103449. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Aim: This single blind cross-sectional study compared the vascular health of subjects suffering from severe chronic periodontitis, severe aggressive periodontitis and periodontal healthy controls by evaluating pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx) and pulse pressure amplification (PPA).

Material and methods: In a total of 158 subjects, 92 suffering from severe periodontitis and 66 matched periodontal healthy controls, PWV, AIx, central and peripheral blood pressure were recorded using an oscillometric device (Arteriograph).

Results: Subjects suffering from severe chronic or aggressive periodontitis exhibited significantly higher PWV (p = 0.00004), higher AIx (p = 0.0049) and lower PPA (p = 0.028) than matched periodontal healthy controls.

Conclusions: The results of this study confirm the association between periodontal inflammation and increased cardiovascular risk shown by impaired vascular health in case of severe periodontitis. As impaired vascular health is a common finding in patients suffering from severe periodontal disease a concomitant routine cardiovascular evaluation may be advised.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aorta / physiopathology
  • Blood Pressure
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oscillometry
  • Periodontitis / diagnosis
  • Periodontitis / physiopathology*
  • Pulse Wave Analysis*
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vascular Stiffness*

Grants and funding

This study was funded externally by a grant of the German Research Foundation (EH 365/1-1) and by the IZKF Wuerzburg (Z-2/34). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.