Dyslipidemia, diabetes and periodontal disease, a cross-sectional study in Rafsanjan, a region in southeast Iran

THE OBJECTIVES: The association between dyslipidemia, diabetes and alterations in periodontal health are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine the association between dyslipidemia, diabetes and periodontal disease in the Oral Health Branch of Rafsanjan Cohort Study (OHBRCS). METHODS: Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS) was launched in 2015 in Rafsanjan City a region in the southeast of Iran. A total of 8682 participants aged 35–70 years of both gender were recruited into the OHBRCS as a part of RCS. Bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and Clinical attachment loss (CAL) were used to assess periodontal health status. When CAL progression was ≥ 1 mm and PPD was > 3 mm, it was defined as periodontitis. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 6751 individuals with mean age of 47.67 ± 8.79 years. Among this population, 73.32% (n = 4949), 13.75% (n = 928), 59.67% (n = 4028) and 11.76% (n = 794) had BOP, PPD > 3 mm, CAL ≥ 1 mm and periodontitis respectively. The odds of CAL ≥ 1 mm increased 14% in subjects with high LDL cholesterol (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.01–1.30), 17% in subjects with diabetes (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01–1.36) and 23% in subjects with both dyslipidemia and diabetes (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05–1.44). Also, the odds of PPD > 3 mm in the group with high total cholesterol (TC) was 16% higher compared to those with normal TC (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01–1.34). CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased odds in periodontal disease in association with high TC, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes and having both dyslipidemia and diabetes. This suggests that high TC, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes and having both dyslipidemia and diabetes might be potential indicators for the presence of periodontal disease.