Research article

Periodontal disease and atherosclerosis from the viewpoint of the relationship between community periodontal index of treatment needs and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

Koichi Miyaki^1,2 , Katsunori Masaki¹ , Mariko Naito³ , Toru Naito⁴ , Keika Hoshi⁵ , Asako Hara¹ , Shugo Tohyama¹ and Takeo Nakayama⁶

¹Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan

²Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical & Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

³Department of Preventive Medicine/Biostatistics and Medical Decision Making, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan

⁴Section of General Dentistry, Department of General Dentistry, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan

⁵Japan Council for Quality Health Care, Tokyo, Japan

⁶Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan

author email corresponding author email

BMC Public Health 2006, 6:131doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-131

Published:	14 May 2006

Abstract

Background

It has been suggested that periodontal disease may be an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However, the relationship between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to assess the effects of periodontal disease on atherosclerosis.

Methods

The study design was a cross-sectional study. Subjects were 291 healthy male workers in Japan. We used the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) score, average probing depth and gingival bleeding index (rate of bleeding gums) to assess the severity of periodontal disease. We also used the Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) as the index for the development of atherosclerosis.

Results

The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of atherosclerosis in relation to the CPITN score was 1.41 [95% CI: 1.16–1.73]. However, after adjustment for age, systolic blood pressure and smoking, the CPITN score had no relationship with atherosclerosis (adjusted OR: 0.91 [0.68–1.20]).

Conclusion

Our results show no relationship between mild periodontal disease and atherosclerosis after appropriate adjustments.