Association of Periodontal Disease with Atherosclerosis in Hypertensive Patients

Objectives: Periodontal disease has been reported as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the periodontal status and the severity of atherosclerosis. Methods: This study was carried out in 71 subjects diagnosed as hypertensive patients (61.1±9.6 years old) after obtaining the informed consent. Primary evaluation items were the probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is an index of atherosclerosis (normal value: 1400cm/sec). Subgingival plaques were cultured under anaerobic conditions for 96 hours, and the bacteria were identified. The subjects were divided into a group with advanced periodontal disease (PD≥4 mm or BOP≥40%) and those without advanced periodontal disease (PD≤4 mm or BOP≤40%), and the PWV and plaque bacterial flora were compared. Results: The mean PD of all teeth was 4.0±1.0 mm, the mean largest PD was 6.2±2.2 mm, and BOP rate was 43.6±29.4%, indicating markedly advanced periodontal disease. The PWV was significantly higher (p<0.05, t-test) in the high BOP group (n=35, 1727±336cm/sec) than in the low BOP group (n=36, 1569±266cm/sec) . It was slightly higher in the large PD group (n=33, 1715±342cm/sec) than in the small PD group (n=38, 1588±272cm/sec) (p=0.087, t-test). In bacterial flora, the detection rate of species of the genus Prevotella was significantly higher (p<0.05, t-test) in the large PD and high BOP groups than the small PD and low BOP groups. Therefore, species of the genus Prevotella are considered likely to be involved in the progression of periodontal disease in hypertensive patients. Conclusions: Periodontal disease was advanced in hypertensive patients. Also, a high BOP rate or a large PD is considered to be associated with advanced atherosclerosis, indicating a close relationship between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis. This study was supported by the JSPS grant (No.15209071)