Abstract
Data sources MEDLINE and Embase were sources; reference lists from relevant articles, plus selected journals dated up to October 2001, were also searched by hand.
Study selection Studies were considered for inclusion if they addressed different aspects of periodontal disease (clinical, microbial or immunological) and clinical outcomes of coronary heart disease (CHD) or preterm and/or low birth weight (PLBW.) Because of the nature of the question, cross-sectional, case–control, cohort and clinical trial study-designs were considered.
Data extraction and synthesis Information regarding the quality and characteristics of studies was extracted independently by two reviewers using criteria relevant to each study design. Qualitative synthesis of the included studies was carried out due to extensive heterogeneity of the studies.
Results Half of the cohort studies (four out of eight), 75% of the case–control studies (three out of four) and half of the cross-sectional studies (two out of the four) reported a significant association between clinical measures of periodontitis and CHD (the increased risk ranged from 0 to 3.3-fold). The periodontitis–PLBW association was evaluated in one cohort and two case–control studies. The cohort study as well as one of the two case–control studies reported a significant association between periodontitis and PLBW (odds ratios, 4.4–7.9).
Conclusions There is limited evidence that periodontitis is associated with an increased risk for CHD and PLBW. These associations should be explored further in well-designed observational and intervention studies to establish whether they are causal or incidental, to determine any possible benefits of intervention, and the potential to generalise.
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Address for correspondence: Phoebus N Madianos, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Thivon 2, 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece. E-mail: pmadian@dent.uoa.gr
Madianos PN, Bobetsis GA, Kinane DF. Is periodontitis associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and preterm and/or low birth weight births? J Clin Periodontol 2002; 29(Suppl. 3): S22–S36
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Henshaw, M. Periodontal disease is associated with coronary heart disease, preterm birth and low birth weight. Evid Based Dent 4, 58 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400201
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ebd.6400201
