Abstract
Background. The present study
investigated the relationship between certain periodontal variables and
severity of disease in COPD patients.
Methods. The present
cross-sectional study included 50 patients suffering from COPD. Lung function
examination, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital
capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, SpO2, and Modified Medical Research
Council (MMRC) Dyspnea Scale were performed. Periodontal clinical examination
index included probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL), gingival index (GI)
and plaque index (PI). A quality of life validated index, the COPD assessment
test (CAT index), was also calculated.
Results. The FEV1 and FVC indices showed a significant
negative correlation with PI and AL variables only. The COPD assessment test
(CAT) index showed a significant but positive correlation with PI and AL
variables only. The SpO2 index presented a significant negative
correlation with GI and AL variables. The FEV1/FVC ratio was found to have a
negative correlation with PD and AL variables. It is worth noting that MMRC
exhibited no significant relationship with any of the periodontal variables.
The only variable that was significantly different (P=0.022) among the three
smoking groups was the FVC index. The FVC value was significantly higher in
the group of subjects who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day versus the
non-smoking group (P=0.017).
Conclusion. Based on the findings
of this study, in view of the relationship between periodontal variables and
respiratory indices in the course of COPD, early treatment of periodontal
diseases, might considerably reduce the severity of COPD.