Severe Periodontal Disease Increases risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke: Study

Various confounders, such as sociodemographic, behavioral, systemic, and oral health factors, including hypercholesterolemia, were considered. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was applied to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratio (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]) based on person-year of periodontal condition for AMI, stroke, and nonfatal major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) encompassing AMI or stroke controlling for various confounders.

Stratified analyses according to age group, sex, and toothbrushing frequency were also performed.

The following findings were found out-

1. After controlling for various confounders, participants with SPD compared with non-SPD participants had a higher incidence by 11% for AMI (aHR, 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.20), by 3.5% for stroke (aHR, 1.035; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07), and by 4.1% for MACEs (aHR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07).

2. The association of SPD with AMI and MACE was highly modified in females and adults aged 40 to 59 y.

3. In the total Korean population, SPD increased total AMI events by 4.3%, total stroke events by 1.4%, and the total MACEs by 1.6%.

Hence, the authors concluded that "SPD was causally associated with the new events of AMI and stroke."