Obese patients with hypertension have higher prevalence of periodontitis: Study

A study was conducted by a group of researchers from Brazil to compare the systemic and periodontal conditions between morbidly obese patients with and without hypertension who were candidates for bariatric surgery.

The study cohort had 111 morbidly obese patients stratified into two groups: patients with (G1 = 54) and without (G2 = 57) arterial hypertension. The following characteristics were compared between the two groups:

• Education level
• Anthropometric parameters [weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)]
• Risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (based on patients' sex, age and WHR);
• Behaviours regarding oral hygiene
• Periodontal status.

The t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, chi-square test and logistic regression were applied, with a significance level of 5%.

The results of the study are as follows:

• Patients in G1 had a lower level of education.
• There were no intergroup differences for weight, height, BMI, waist circumference and WHR; however, patients in G2 had a smaller hip circumference, and 78% of patients in G1 had a high/very high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
• The prevalence of periodontitis was 72.2% (n = 39) in G1 and 38.6% (n = 22) in G2. On logistic regression analysis, age and the presence of arterial hypertension were identified as the independent variables associated with periodontitis.

Thus, the researchers concluded that morbid obesity and arterial hypertension are associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, morbidly obese patients with hypertension have a higher prevalence of periodontitis and greater severity of periodontal disease than those without hypertension.

Reference:

Association between arterial hypertension and periodontal status in morbidly obese patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery by Foratori-Junior G et. al published in international dental journal.

https://doi.org/10.1111/idj.12625