INTRODUCTION: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory response to bacteria that reside in the gum tissue and can have systemic repercussion. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between periodontitis and markers of cardiovascular risk. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ninety selected patients were assigned into two groups in accordance with their levels of probing pocket depth (PPD) and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL): control group, n= 45 (< 4 sites with PPD ≥ 4.0 mm and CAL ≥ 3.0 mm) and case group, n= 45 (≥ 30% of sites with PPD ≥ 4.0 mm and CAL ≥3.0 mm). Plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, high sensitive CRP, high-density lipoproteins (HDL-c) and electronegative low density lipoproteins (LDL) were assessed in all participants. Data from medical history and socioeconomic level were also collected from patients. RESULT: Plasma levels of HDL-c were lower in subjects with periodontal disease (p = 0.016) and were inversely associated with the number of sites with PPD ≥ 3 mm (rho= -0.325) and number of sites with PPD ≥ 3 mm and CAL ≥ 3 mm (rho= -0.216). These associations remained significant after adjustments for dental plaque and smoking using Univariate Analysis of Covariance (p < 0.05). Adjusted odds ratio between periodontal disease and levels of HDL-c was 0.94 (CI95% 0.88-0.99) after adjusting for age, smoking and dental plaque. Other investigated markers of cardiovascular risk were not related to periodontal disease. CONCLUSION: Clinical parameters of periodontitis were inversely associated with plasma concentrations of HDL-c.
Periodontal diseases; HDL-c; coronary heart disease; cardiovascular risk