Association among oral health parameters, periodontitis, and its treatment and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Cleber M. De Souza, Ana Paula R. Braosi, Sônia M. Luczyszyn, Márcia Olandoski, Peter Kotanko, Ronald G. Craig, Paula C. Trevilatto, Roberto Pecoits-Filho

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a continuous, reversible source of inflammation with a potential impact on mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). This study investigates the impact of oral health indicators, CP, and its treatment on survival rates in a group of patients undergoing HD. Methods: Clinically stable patients undergoing HD were referred for a dental examination. All patients were prospectively followed in the dialysis clinic, and all-cause mortality was recorded. Three groups of patients were analyzed: those who received CP treatment, those who did not, and patients without CP as a control group. Results: A total of 122 patients (79 males and 43 females, aged 23 to 77 years; mean age: 50 years; range: 23 to 77 years) were enrolled. Forty percent reported having rarely been evaluated by a dentist, and 59% had CP. There were 34 fatal events during a mean follow-up time of 64.1 - 11.2 months. Oral factors associated with death in the univariate analysis were decreased frequency of dental visits; non-use of dental floss; increased decayed, missing, and filled teeth index; presence of CP; and absence of CP treatment. Patients with CP had a higher risk of death from all causes compared with patients without CP in the univariate analysis for untreated patients (hazard ratio 2.65 [95% confidence interval 1.06 to 6.59]; P = 0.036) and to a lesser extent for treated patients (2.36 [1.01 to 5.59]; P = 0.047). These significant differences were not maintained after adjustments for confounders in the multivariate model. Conclusions: These results suggest that poor oral health, including CP, is a common finding in patients undergoing HD. The results of this study call for intervention trials to test the hypothesis that treatment of CP improves survival in maintenance of patients undergoing HD.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)e169-e178
    JournalJournal of periodontology
    Volume85
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jun 2014

    Keywords

    • Inflammation
    • Kidney diseases
    • Oral health
    • Periodontal diseases
    • Renal dialysis
    • Survival

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Periodontics

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