Metabolic syndrome as a risk indicator for periodontal disease and tooth loss

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome (MS) with periodontitis (PE) and tooth loss (TL).

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 363 individuals who underwent full-mouth periodontal examination, and the association between MS and PE was evaluated considering three outcomes: severe periodontitis, mean probing depth ≥2.4 mm, and mean clinical attachment loss ≥2.0 mm. The prevalence ratio (PR) between MS and PE was calculated using a model adjusted for gender, age, smoking, years of education, and socioeconomic status.

Results: The adjusted model showed a PR for severe periodontitis of 1.17 (95 % CI 0.83-1.65). There was no significant association between MS and PE defined as mean probing depth ≥2.4 mm. MS was significantly associated with PE defined as mean attachment loss ≥2 mm in individuals aged 41-60 years (PR 1.47, 95 % CI 1.05-2.06). In addition, MS was associated with TL (>6 teeth) (PR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.02-1.49) for all ages, both in crude and adjusted analyses.

Conclusions: We concluded that there is a weak association of MS with both attachment loss and TL.

Clinical relevance: Patients with MS seem to have a higher risk of attachment loss and tooth loss and should be screened for periodontal disease.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Periodontal attachment loss; Periodontitis; Tooth loss.