The Relationship between Severity of Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Status in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarctions: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Although the association between periodontitis (PD) and acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) is known, it is unclear whether the severity of the PD is associated with the atherosclerotic cardiovascular status (ASCVS) degree in patients with AMIs. We prospectively investigated 50 patients with AMIs admitted to the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital from July 2019 to May 2022. All patients were classified according to the presence and severity of the PD. The periodontal status was defined by radiographic bone loss in accordance with previous studies (healthy; ≥80% remaining bone [RB], mild-moderate PD; 66 ≤ RB < 80%, and severe PD; RB < 66%), and the degree of the ASCVS was compared. The low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio significantly increased from healthy to mild-moderate PD to severe PD. The SYNTAX score was numerically higher according to the severity of the PD. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (p = 0.025) and E/e’ value (p = 0.009) were highest in the severe PD group. The cIMT and E/e’ had a significant negative correlation with the PD (Person’s correlation coefficients; r=-0.296, p = 0.037, and r=-0.411, p = 0.003, respectively). We found that the severity of the PD was associated with carotid atherosclerosis and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in AMI patients, suggesting the importance of scrutinizing PD in AMI practice.