Periodontal status in patients undergoing hemodialysis

The aim of the study was to assess the periodontal status of patients among group of patients receiving hemodialysis in two super specialty renal institutes in the state of Gujarat. A cross-sectional study of 304 subjects, 152 subjects each in dialysis, and control group was conducted. Oral hygiene status was assessed using a Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, and periodontal status was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) and Loss of Attachment (LOA) as per WHO methodology 1997. The dialysis group had poor oral hygiene than the control group (P<0.001). There was high severity of periodontitis in the dialysis group as compared with the control group (P<0.001). None of the subjects had healthy periodontium. There was high severity of periodontitis (for both in terms of CPI and LOA) in the dialysis group as compared with control group that was found to be statistically highly significant (P<0.001). However, no statistically significant difference was observed (P>0.05) when the intergroup comparison for CPI and LOA were made among the subgroups according to the duration of dialysis. Periodontal disease is prevalent in chronic renal failure patients who showed the unacceptable level of oral hygiene and hence there is need for oral health promotion and preventive programs among the patients receiving dialysis.