Periodontal conditions of Hong Kong Chinese adults with essential hypertension

Abstract

Objectives: To survey periodontal conditions of Chinese adults with essential hypertension (EH) attending a university teaching hospital. Methods: 102 adults (55 female, 53.17±11.24 years, mean±SD) with EH (duration 11.4±6.9 years) were recruited from the Hypertension Clinic while age- (51.77±9.51 years) and gender-matched non-hypertensive participants attending a surgical department were recruited as control (C). Medical record of all participants were checked to exclude concomitant systemic conditions e.g. diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and complications. Questionnaires were used to collect dental history, oral hygiene habits and dental visit patterns. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and pulse rates were taken twice with a 10-minute interval by the medical team. Clinical periodontal parameters including plaque score (Pl%), bleeding on probing (BOP %), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Severity of periodontitis was classified according to Page & Eke (2007). Results: Both groups presented with poor oral hygiene (>60% Pl%). EH group had higher BOP% (58.9% vs. 45.0%), more missing teeth (4.94 vs. 3.43), higher mean CAL (3.19 vs. 2.30) and deeper mean PPD (2.74 vs. 2.34) (P<0.01). 45.3%/71.4% and 52.8%/12.2% of the EH/C participants had moderate or severe periodontitis, respectively (P<0.001). Regression analysis indicated hypertension status, age, lower Pl%, higher %PPD> 5mm, were associated with missing teeth (r2=0.320, P<0.05) while hypertension status, age, smoking, higher %PPD> 5mm, were associated with higher mean CAL (r2=0.544, P<0.05). Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, more than half of the Hong Kong Chinese EH attenders of a University hospital had severe periodontitis. Periodontitis appeared to be associated with hypertension, smoking, age and proportion of deep pockets. People affected by EH, physicians and dentists perhaps need to pay attention regarding early detection, prevention and management of possible poor periodontal health in these individuals who are at risk.