Severe periodontal disease (SPD) associated with systemic peripheral inflammation, cognitive impairment (CI) and arterial stiffness (AS) has been recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CI and arterial stiffness (AS) occur in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients with SPD. A crosssectional case-control study included hospitalized patients with CVD. Demographic characteristics, CVD and atherogenic risk factors were recorded. SPD was diagnosed by clinical and radiographic dental examinations. Dental clinical attachment level (CAL) and CAL % were recorded. A Mini-Mental State Examination test (MMSE) assessed cognition, a MMSE score of < 27 was set as the cut-off point of CI; a score ≥ 27 was considered as no CI. Patients were categorized into: MMSE<27 (cases) and MMSE≥27 (controls). AS was evaluated by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Serum VCAM-1 levels were determined in a random sample. Results: This study comprised 91 patients (cases, n=26; 29.6%; controls, n=65, 71.4%); aged 73±8 vs. 73±7 years, respectively (p=0.73), of whom 53.8% and 36.9% respectively, were women; SPD was found to be a risk factor for CI; the presence of SPD increased the risk for MMSE <27 by an average 5.39 times (model 1). PWV was associated with MMSE < 27 in the three models. The risk of having MMSE < 27 increased an average of 2.404-fold for each 1-unit increase in PWV. SPD and AS had significant and independent associations on the risk for development CI. MMSE negatively correlated with CAL% (r=0.69) and PWV (r=0.70). PWV positively correlated with CAL% (r=0.67). Serum VCAM-1 levels were higher in SPD with lower MMSE scores. In conclusion, SPD increases the risk of development of cognitive decline in CVD patients. PWV was directly associated with the risk of cognitive decline. These findings denote a significant opportunity to improve periodontal health in order to avert CI in CVD patients.
La enfermedad periodontal severa (EPS) podría estar asociada a la rigidez arterial (RA) y al deterioro cognitivo (DC). Se realizó un estudio transversal de casos y controles y se investigó la presencia de RA y DC en pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV) y EPS. En pacientes hospitalizados con ECV se registraron las características demográficas y factores de riesgo aterogénicos. El DC se diagnosticó a través del Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Punto de corte: MMSE<27 (casos); puntaje ≥27 ausencia de DC (controles). La EPS fue diagnosticada clínica y radiográficamente. Se registraron el nivel inserción clínica (NIC) y NIC %. La RA fue evaluada a través de la velocidad de onda de pulso (VOP). VCAM-1 sérico se determinó en una muestra aleatoria. Se incluyeron 91 pacientes (casos,n=26; 29.6%; controles,n=65, 71.4%); edad promedio: 73±8 vs. 73±7 años, respectivamente (p=0.73); % de mujeres: 53.8 vs. 36.9, respectivamente y EPS (n=54) y ausencia de EP (noEP) en 37. MMSE< 27 en 26 pacientes; 23 de ellos, con EPS. La presencia de EPS aumentó el riesgo de MMSE< 27 en 5.39 veces (modelo 1). La VOP se asoció a MMSE< 27 (Modelo 1, 2 y 3). El riesgo de MMSE< 27 incrementó en promedio en 2.40 veces por cada aumento de unidad de VOP. EPS y RA mostraron asociaciones significativas e independientes sobre el riesgo de DC. MMSE se correlacionó negativamente con NIC % (r=0.69) y POV (r=0.70); y POV, positivamente con NIC % (r=0.67). Los niveles séricos de VCAM-1 fueron más elevados en presencia de EPS y puntajes bajos de MMSE. Puede concluirse que en pacientes con ECV y EPS, el aumento en RA incrementaría el riesgo de DC. Estos hallazgos enfatizan la necesidad de promover y mantener la salud bucal para evitar el DC en pacientes con ECV.
Keywords: VCAM-1; arterial stiffness; cardiovascular diseases; cognitive impairment; severe periodontitis.
Sociedad Argentina de Investigación Odontológica.