Periodontal Disease as a Risk Factor for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the possible association between periodontal disease and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A case-control study was conducted in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. The sample consisted of 290 individuals (216 controls and 74 cases). The cases were patients hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of AMI, while the controls were people accompanying the cases and other hospitalized patients, without any previous history of AMI. A complete clinical periodontal examination was performed. The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of AMI was made using electrocardiograms, CK-MB enzyme assays and troponin assays. Crude and confounder-adjusted association measurements (odds ratios-OR) were obtained at a significance level of 5%. The results presented a statistically significant principal association measurement of ORcrude = 2.52 (95% CI [1.38 - 4.70]). After adjustment for age, sex, schooling level, smoking habit, hypertension and diabetes, this measurement became ORadjusted = 1.51 (95% CI [0.73 - 3.14]). The results did not show any statistically significant association between the exposure and the outcome. However, the epidemiological findings showed that periodontitis occurred more frequently among individuals with AMI.