Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article
Periodontitis in patients with cirrhosis: a cross-sectional study
Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2018
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Background
Many patients with cirrhosis have poor oral health but little is known on periodontitis, and its clinical significance is largely unknown. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of periodontitis, and evaluate the association of periodontitis with nutritional and systemic inflammation status.
Methods
145 patients with cirrhosis were consecutively enrolled. Clinical, oral examination of plaque, pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing was performed. Patients were categorized as having no-or-mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis. Predictors of severe periodontitis and the association with nutritional and systemic inflammation status were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results
The large majority of patients had periodontitis, 46% of them severely and 39% moderately. Predictors of severe periodontitis included smoking (odds ratio (OR) 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29–6.63), brushing teeth twice daily (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11–0.79), and visiting the dentist annually (OR 3.51, 95% CI 1.22–10.81). Cirrhosis etiology or severity was not predictors of severe periodontitis. The patients with severe periodontitis had a higher nutritional risk score than patients with moderate, mild, or no periodontitis (3, interquartile range (IQR) 3–5 vs. 3, IQR 2–4, P = 0.02).
Conclusions
Most cirrhosis patients had significant periodontitis, the severity of which was related to life style factors and was associated with higher nutrition risk score. Our results emphasize the need for further research to establish the effect of periodontitis on cirrhosis.