Prevalence of gingival overgrowth among elderly patients under amlodipine therapy at a large Indian teaching hospital

• Published in: Gerodontology Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 209 - 213
• Main Authors: Karnik, Rohit, Bhat, K. Mahalinga, Subraya Bhat, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2012
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; amlodipine; Amlodipine - administration & dosage; Amlodipine - adverse effects; calcium channel blocker; Calcium Channel Blockers - administration & dosage; Calcium Channel Blockers - adverse effects; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dental Plaque Index; Dentistry; Female; gingival overgrowth; Gingival Overgrowth - chemically induced; Gingival Overgrowth - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Prevalence
• ISSN: 0734-0664; 1741-2358
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00603.x

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00603.x 
 Prevalence of gingival overgrowth among elderly patients under amlodipine therapy at a large Indian teaching hospital Objectives:  To determine the prevalence of amlodipine‐induced gingival overgrowth (GO) among elderly subjects attending an Indian teaching hospital and find any association with demographic factors, drug variables, oral hygiene status and gingival inflammation. Methods:  A cross‐sectional pilot study included 157 dentate patients aged 60 years or more, taking Amlodipine for at least 3 months. Data were collected from past medical records and oral examination. Clinical assessment of GO was correlated with patient’s age, gender, drug dosage (2.5, 5 or 10 mg/day), duration of drug therapy (3–4, 4–6, 6–12, 12–24 and >24 months) and also with subjects’ plaque index and gingival index scores. Results:  Eight patients (5.09%) had GO. No statistically significant relation was observed between age (p = 0.79), gender (p = 0.56), drug dosage (p = 0.25) and duration of drug intake (p = 0.62) and prevalence of GO. GO prevalence related highly significantly (p < 0.001) with plaque and gingival index scores. Conclusions:  Prevalence of amlodipine‐associated GO in the sample of elderly Indian patients was noted higher than that previously reported. Plaque and gingival inflammation were highly correlated with this condition, while demographic characteristics and drug dosage did not relate significantly.