Longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and progression of periodontitis in community-dwelling people: Nagasaki Islands study

Abstract Few epidemiological studies have explored the longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and periodontitis. This 3-year cohort study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and the progression of periodontitis in community-dwelling individuals in Japan. Progression of periodontitis was defined as the presence of two or more teeth demonstrating a longitudinal loss of proximal attachment ≥ 3 mm during the study period, among the included participants. Oral examinations and subclinical atherosclerosis assessments were performed in Goto City, Japan. The surrogate markers of early-stage atherosclerosis used in this study were increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), low ankle-brachial index (ABI), and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). The study included 222 Japanese adults. While CAVI increased significantly in both groups, the prevalence of CAVI ≥ 8 was significantly increased in only the progression group during the study period. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the progression of periodontitis was significantly associated with cIMT. Additionally, CAVI positively correlated with changes in probing pocket depth, while ABI negatively correlated with changes in clinical attachment loss. These results suggest that subclinical markers of early-stage atherosclerosis are significantly associated with a greater risk of periodontitis progression in community-dwelling Japanese participants.