Oral health status and cardiovascular risk profile in Cameroonian military population

BACKGROUND: Periodontal diseases (PD) seem to appear today as predictors of some cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is a lack of data on the oral health among Cameroonian military population, and its relationship with CVD. PURPOSE: Investigate on the link between oral health of Cameroonian military from the Ngaoundéré garrison and their cardiovascular risk profile. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study at the Fifth Military Sector Health Center in Ngaoundéré was conducted. General health parameters assessment was done according to the World Health Organization STEPS manual for surveillance of risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. The periodontal status was assessed using Dutch Periodontal Screening Index. RESULTS: Two hundred and five participants who were officers and non-commissioned officers (aged 47 ± 08 and 32 ± 08 years respectively), with 86.4% of men were included. Smoking was associated to periodontitis (OR = 4.44 [1.73–11.43], p = 0.0031). Quality of oral hygiene was associated to high cardiovascular risk profile, poor/good (OR = 3.96 [1.07–14.57], p = 0.0386) and medium/good (OR = 3.44 [1.11–10.66], p = 0.0322). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle as tobacco consumption and poor oral hygiene were associated to CVD among military, and this call for change.