A periodontal health assessment of hospitalized patients with myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Recent researches have known long term infections such as periodontal disease to be related with the process of atherosclerosis. Periodontitis causes peripheral inflammation and immune cell stimulation which leads to an increase in C - reactive protein (CRP) and IgA Ab and there is a definite relation between cardiovascular disease, CRP increase and Periodontitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal health status of patients with myocardial infarction who were hospitalized in Babol and Sari Hospitals. METHODS This descriptive study was done on 95 men and women age ranging from 40 to 70 years old hospitalized due to myocardial infarction diagnosis in Babol and Sari Hospitals. Periodontal health, of patients evaluated via Cowell Bleeding Index, Green and vermillion Debri Index, Tooth Mobility, Clinical attachment Level on Ramfjord teeth. Data were analyzed with SPSS and Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-whitney test. RESULTS Considered indexes were evaluated in 81men and 14 women studied which showed no significant difference among them in the average BI (p=0.52), average tooth mobility (p=0.117) and average CAL index (p=0.745). The only significant difference between men and women was found in average DI index (p=0.08). There was a significant difference between average CAL in Ramfjord teeth of upper and lower jaw (p=0.002). CONCLUSION According to high prevalence of periodontitis in our study, periodontitis may be a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, it should be pointed out that here is the cardiologists' emphasis on their patients referring to the dentists.