Diabetes and periodontal disease: A case-control study

Background: Periodontitis is often associated with diabetes
and might be considered one of the chronic complications of diabetes
mellitus, both in Type 1 (T1DM) and Type 2 (T2DM). This
case-control study was designed to evaluate the possible association
between non–insulin-dependent diabetes (T2DM) and
clinical and microbiological periodontal disease among adult
Sardinians.
Methods: A total of 212 individuals participated in this study:
71 T2DM patients aged 61.0 ± 11.0 years and 141 non-diabetic
controls in good general health aged 59.1 ± 9.2 years. All subjects
were given a clinical periodontal examination for probing
depth, attachment level, presence of calculus, bleeding on probing,
and assessment of plaque. Subgingival plaque samples
were obtained, and P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, and T. forsythensis
were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.
Results: T2DM patients showed: a significantly lower number
of present teeth (P = 0.002); a significant increase in number of
probing depths >4 mm, and percent of pocket depths >4 mm
(P = 0.04 and P = 0.05, respectively); periodontitis (P = 0.046);
bleeding on probing (P = 0.02); and plaque index (P = 0.01). A
significant association with diabetes was detected for plaque (χ2 =
4.46, P <0.05) and bleeding on probing (χ2 = 3.60; P <0.05). Concerning
bacteria prevalence, a positive association was detected
for P. gingivalis (χ2 = 2.80; P <0.05) and T. forsythensis (χ2 = 3.87;
P <0.05). Presence of plaque was positively associated with case
status (odds ratio (OR) = 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2,
3.6) and with prevalence of P. gingivalis and T. forsythensis, (odds
ratio (OR) = 1.2; 95% CI:1.3, 2.2) and 1.2 (95% CI: 1.2, 1.8),
respectively.
Conclusion: Patients with T2DM undoubtedly have a susceptibility
for more severe periodontal disease. J Periodontol 2005;76:
000-000.