Gingival Inflammatory Profile of Intensive Care Unit Patients with COVID-19: A Pilot Study

Abstract

There is minimal evidence to provide robust conclusions on how periodontal disease may be associated with COVID-19 infection. The objective of this research was to evaluate the gingival inflammatory profile of patients with COVID-19 in the ICU of the Western Paraná State University Hospital (HUOP) in Cascavel/PR, through a pilot clinical study. Data such as age, sex, exams and health history were performed by searching the information system - Tasy®. Patients were divided into two groups: Patients without COVID-19 (control group) and patients with COVID-19 (case group) and were evaluated: Plaque Index (IP), Probing Depth (PS), clinical attachment level (NI) and bleeding on probing (SS) and 3 sites were selected to collect the amount of Gingival Crevicular fluid (GCF). It was observed that in both groups the majority of patients were male, with no differences between them for sex and age. Patients in the COVID-19 group had statistically higher values ​​of IP and FCG and lower values ​​of PS and NI. In addition, patients with COVID-19 had an increase in Hemoglobin and a decrease in Lymphocytes and Platelets compared to the control group. As for Hospital Medication, only the variable Corticosteroids was administered with greater statistical frequency in patients with COVID-19 and each NI unit increases the chance of the patient dying by 10.59 times. It is concluded that there was an increase in the periodontal inflammatory profile of patients with COVID-19, however dexamethasone therapy may have led to an inhibition in the development of periodontitis in these patients.