Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations and periodontitis: a possible association

Abstract

Background There is an increasing interest concerning the potential link between both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic periodontitis; therefore the association became the research focus. Objective This study intended to evaluate the potential association between the frequency of COPD exacerbations and chronic periodontitis. Patients and methods A total of 250 male patients with COPD were included in the study and were categorized into two groups according to the frequency of exacerbations per year: group 1 had patients with frequent exacerbations (having ≥2 exacerbations in last year) and group 2 had patients with infrequent exacerbations (having <2 exacerbations in last year). They were compared regarding age, smoking history, education background, information of their oral hygiene behaviors, calculated modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, calculated COPD assessment test, the number of exacerbations and hospitalizations in the past year, prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator spirometry, calculated plaque index, bleeding index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and measured high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Correlations between variables were examined. Logistic regression test was performed to explore the concurrent influences of periodontal health variables on the frequency of exacerbations. Results This study evidenced that all periodontal health variables were significantly correlated with smoking status, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, COPD assessment test, number of exacerbations and hospitalizations per year, and C-reactive protein level. Simplified oral hygiene index, plaque index, bleeding index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were significantly correlated with most of the spirometry data. Conclusion Periodontal health variables were considerably associated with the frequency of COPD exacerbations.