[Prevalence and severity of chronic parodontitis and oral mucosal lesions in chronic obstructive lung disease].

INTRODUCTION: Chronic parodontitis is a prevalent oral disease that may lead to the loss of teeth independently of caries. Some systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure) may aggravate chronic parodontitis. On the other hand, this oral disease may aggravate other systemic diseases. Earlier studies suggested a correlation between chronic parodontitis and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

AIM: The aim of our study was the investigation of the correlation between chronic parodontitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

METHOD: We have recruited patients of the Department of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Medical School, University of Pécs, in the study. Volunteers were assigned into a COPD (n = 29) and control group (n = 45). Airflow limitation of the COPD group (FEV1 /FVC: 61.52 ± 3.2%) corresponded to GOLD 2 (global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease; FEV1 : 52.66 ± 3.57%). Oral health assessment included mean and maximal clinical attachment loss, mobility of teeth, decayed/filled and missing teeth, Löe-Silness, oral hygiene and bleeding on probing indexes. One-way ANOVA and non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Oral health of the COPD group was worse than that of the controls. In this group the mean and maximal clinical attachment loss, mobility of teeth, the Löe-Silness, the oral hygiene and bleeding on probing indexes were higher.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the positive correlation between chronic parodontitis and a moderate level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, it is not clear whether the COPD-associated systemic inflammation aggravated the oral status or the chronic parodontitis influenced negatively chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(21): 831-836.