Periodontitis is associated with subclinical cerebral and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients: A cross-sectional study

Objective To examine the relationship between periodontitis and subclinical intracranial atherosclerosis. The association of periodontitis with preclinical markers of atherosclerosis in other vascular territories was also explored. Material and methods This was a cross-sectional study where 97 elderly subjects with a previous history of hypertension received an ultrasonographic evaluation to assess subclinical atherosclerosis in different vascular territories: (1) cerebral [pulsatility (PI) and resistance index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery], (2) carotid [intima-media thickness (IMT)], and (3) peripheral [ankle-brachial index (ABI)]. Additionally, participants underwent a full-mouth periodontal assessment together with blood sample collection to determine levels of inflammatory biomarkers (leukocytes, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate), lipid fractions (total cholesterol and high- and low-density lipoprotein), and glucose. Results Sixty-one individuals had periodontitis. Compared to subjects without periodontitis, those with periodontitis showed higher values of PI (1.24 ± 0.29 vs 1.01 ± 0.16), RI (0.70 ± 0.14 vs 0.60 ± 0.06), and IMT (0.94 ± 0.15 vs 0.79 ± 0.15) (all p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found neither for ABI or for other clinical and biochemical parameters. An independent association was found between periodontitis and increased intracranial atherosclerosis (OR adjusted = 10.16; 95% CI: 3.14–32.90, p < 0.001) and to a lesser extent with thicker carotid IMT (OR adjusted = 4.10; 95% CI: 1.61–10.48, p = 0.003). Conclusions Periodontitis is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in both intracranial and carotid arteries in elderly subjects with hypertension. Clinical relevance The association of periodontitis with intracranial atherosclerosis implies that periodontitis patients might have greater chances to develop ischemic stroke in the future.