Most don't know about the periodontitis-chronic disease link

About 75% of patients are unaware of the connection between periodontitis and other diseases regardless of their socioeconomic status, periodontal health, or access to care. This large study was recently published in the Journal of Periodontal Research.

Despite the well-documented associations between these conditions and periodontitis, this lack of awareness persists even among those with periodontitis, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes, the authors wrote.

"The present findings highlight the urgent need to promote communication and knowledge transfer about the link between periodontitis and other chronic diseases," wrote the authors, led by Maria Clotilde Carra of the Université Paris Cité in France (J Periodont Res, July 25, 2024).

The study analyzed data from a self-reported questionnaire that included an evaluation of periodontitis risk and oral health-related quality of life, they wrote. Severe periodontitis was assessed by calculating the Periodontal Screening Score (PESS) based on selected questions, age, and smoking. Awareness was evaluated by asking patients whether they had been informed, and by whom, about the link between periodontitis and general health.

The analysis included 8,537 adults with a mean age of 56.3. In the dataset, about 60% had two or more chronic diseases. Only 2,230 (26%) patients reported being aware of a link between periodontitis and other diseases, with the highest awareness among patients with cancer (36%), obstructive sleep apnea (36.1%), and cardiovascular diseases (32%). Information sources included dentists, physicians, and advertisements.

The prevalence of severe periodontitis (PESS ≥5) was about 54%, and among these individuals, only approximately 32% were aware of the link with general diseases. Among those aware of the link, about 72% reported knowing that tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for periodontitis, whereas 68% of those not aware of the association also ignored the link with smoking, the authors wrote

Furthermore, regression analysis showed several factors associated with increased odds of being aware of the correlation between gum disease and chronic diseases, including a patient's cardiovascular diseases, obstructive sleep apnea, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe periodontitis. Conversely, being a smoker was associated with significantly lower odds of being aware, they wrote.

However, the study had limitations. The data, including the assessment of severe periodontitis, were self-reported, the authors wrote.

"Approximately 75% of patients, independently from their socioeconomic status, periodontal health status, frequency of dental visits and perceived access to care, still ignored the link between periodontitis and other diseases," Carra and colleagues wrote.