Periodontitis is associated with incidental valvular heart disease: A nationwide population‐based cohort study

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 48; no. 8; pp. 1085 - 1092
• Main Authors: Sia, Sung‐Kien, Jan, Ming‐Shiou, Wang, Yu‐Hsun, Huang, Yu‐Feng, Wei, James Cheng‐Chung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Arteriosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cohort analysis; Coronary artery disease; Gum disease; Heart diseases; Inflammation; Multivariate analysis; Periodontitis; Population studies; Population-based studies; Risk factors; taiwan national health insurance research database (NHIRD); valvular heart disease
• DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13478
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X

Aim Periodontitis and valvular heart disease (VHD) are common diseases. Both diseases are related to chronic inflammation and share many common risk factors. Previous periodontal studies had focused mainly on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine whether periodontitis is associated with the development of VHD. Materials and methods This was a retrospective nationwide cohort study using Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. Using ICD‐9‐CM coding, both the periodontitis and non‐periodontitis groups were matched. Results There were 8483 cases and 4919 cases of VHD diagnosed in the periodontitis group and non‐periodontitis group, respectively. The cumulative incidence of VHD was significantly higher in the periodontitis group (log‐rank test, p < .001), with the incidence density of 6.44 (95% CI, 6.31–6.58) per 1000 person‐years in the periodontitis group compared to 4.65 (95% CI, 4.52–4.78) in the non‐periodontitis group. The relative risk for VHD was 1.39 (95% CI, 1.34–1.44). After multivariate analysis, periodontitis was independently associated with a risk for VHD (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.33–1.42, p < .001). Intensive treatment of periodontitis significantly lowered the risk for VHD (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60–0.77, p < .001). Conclusions Periodontitis was significantly associated with the development of VHD. Treatment of periodontitis reduced the risk for VHD.