Practical Guidelines for Patients with Hypertension and Periodontitis

Abstract

Arterial hypertension (AH) and periodontitis are among the most common non-communicable chronic diseases worldwide. Besides sharing common risk factors, an increasing body of evidence supports an independent association between the two conditions, with low-grade systemic inflammation acting as the plausible biological link with increased cardiovascular risk. In 2021, the Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension (SIIA) and the Italian Society of Periodontology and Implantology (SIdP) have joined forces and published a joint report on the relationships between AH and periodontitis, reviewing the existing scientific evidence and underlining the need to increase awareness of the strong connection between the two conditions and promote treatment strategies for the control of gums inflammation in patients with AH. The current document extends the previous joint report, providing clinical practical guidelines aimed to support clinicians in the management of patients who suffer from or are at risk of being affected by both conditions. These recommendations are based on careful consideration of the available evidence as well as of the current guidelines on the management of periodontitis and AH and are supported by SIIA and SIdP.