OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between angiographically-defined coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic periodontitis (CP).

METHODS277 cases with CHD (case group) and another 238 with no agiographic evidence of CHD (control group) were compared on their traditional cardiovascular risk factors, as: oral health status and probing depth, clinical attachment level, gingival recession, as well as number of missing teeth. Other related risk factors of CHD were included in a stepwise logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSData from univariate analysis showed that there was significant difference in CP, plasma triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fast glucose, white blood count, hypertension and smoking between patients with CHD and those with out CHD (P < 0.01 - 0.001). Multiple factorial logistic regression analysis showed that CP, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, HDL-C were strongly correlated with the incidence of CHD. Significant dosage-effective response was also found in the relationship between CP and CHD (P < 0.001). Further studies also suggested that the severity of CP paralleled the severity of CHD.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that CP might serve as an independent risk factor of CHD and significantly enhance the risk and severity of CHD. Our study suggested that the elimination of probable risk factors in oral cavity was indispensable during the process of the prevention of CHD in order to prevent acute coronary events.