Associação entre doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e a má condição de saúde periodontal: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Objective: Evidence suggests an association between periodontal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Such association may happen by the presence of oral bacteria (either aspirated or through the bloodstream) and because both diseases are host mediated conditions with many risk factors and comorbidities in common. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency and severity of periodontal disease in patients with COPD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 33 patients with COPD and 30 patients without COPD (control group). All patients underwent spirometry and were examined by a dentist. Periodontal status was evaluated by the following indexes: number of teeth, plaque index (PI), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing depth (PD), PD of diseased sites (PDD), clinical attachment level (CAL), CAL of diseased sites (CALD) and percentage of diseased sites (CALDP). The periodontal disease was classified by severity and extent. The findings were analyzed under Pearson's chi-square test, independent samples t test and logistic regression with odds ratio.

Results: The COPD group had higher PI (p = 0,01), CAL (p = 0,001) and CALDP (p <0,001), more frequent, more severe (p = 0,015) and more generalized (p = 0.005) periodontal disease and the odds ratio for patients with COPD was 1.2 (95% CI: 1,023-1,408).

Conclusions: Patients with COPD present worse periodontal status. Comprehensive periodontal examination in these patients seems to be necessary. More studies are needed in order to clarify the role of periodontal therapy in the management of COPD.