association between chronic periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction: a case-control study in isfahan

introduction chronic periodontitis has been associated with cardiovascular diseases. the hypothesis that oral, especially periodontal, infections have potentially serious systemic implications, is now gaining credence. methods and materials cases were 45-60 years old patients who had been hospitalized in one of cardiologic care units or emergency wards of isfahan medical university, for acute myocardial infarction (ami). controls had no evidence of acute myocardial infarction, all receiving comprehensive periodontal examination. information such as age, socioeconomic state, smoking, and diabetes history were obtained from hospital records and direct interview. a total number of %6 people participated in our study, based on informed consent, were designated as two groups of case and control. the association between mean attachment level and number of missing teeth with studied groups were analyzed with spss statistical software. results the association of the mean attachment level and also the number of missing teeth with case status were statically significant associated (p<0.05). conclusion the results are in accordance with those reports that show the positive association between these two diseases. our findings suggest that the patients who demonstrate evidence of attachment loss around several teeth, at routine dental visit can be identified as being at risk for future ami. such subjects should be referred for medical and periodontal examination and treatment.