Periodontitis and Calculated Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality

Epidemiological studies have reported associations between periodontitis and vascular disease in Europe. The aim of this multi-centric study was to evaluate the relationship between periodontitis and the calculated risk of cardiovascular death in the French adult population. The survey employed 2144 dentate adult subjects of the First National Periodontal and Systemic Examination Survey (NPASES I). This nationally representative sample was obtained by a quota method. The subjects had a complete full-mouth periodontal examination together with an evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors from laboratory tests, standard workup and questionnaires. Cardiovascular risk was calculated with the European SCORE scale calibrated for low risk populations. We found that age-independent cardiovascular risk increased with categories of periodontal disease (from 0.52 (health), 1.26 (slight), 1.69 (moderate) and 2.83 (severe). Cardiovascular mortality risk at 10 years (%), rose from 0.87 (health) to 1.83 (slight), 2.46 (moderate) and 3.94 (severe), p < 0.001. Our data show an association between periodontitis severity and the risk of cardiovascular death