Aim: Metabolic syndrome consists of a cluster of clinical and biological abnormalities, influenced by insulin resistance and promoting cardiovascular diseases. We examined the relationships between metabolic syndrome, its various components, insulin resistance, and periodontitis.
Materials and methods: The study included 276 subjects (35-74 years) recruited within a cross-sectional survey on cardiovascular risk factors. Twenty-one were excluded because of infectious risk or total tooth loss. Clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PD), gingival and plaque indexes were recorded. Periodontitis was classified into moderate and severe forms.
Results: The mean age was 58, 41% of the subjects had moderate and 39% had severe periodontitis. In univariate comparisons, periodontitis was associated with metabolic syndrome (p=0.050), most of its components, and HOMA index (homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance). After adjustment for confounders, only HOMA index remained associated with severe periodontitis (odds ratio [OR]=3.97 [95% confidence interval: 1.22-12.9], OR=3.78 [1.14-12.5] for third and fourth versus the first quartile of the HOMA index, respectively). The HOMA index was also associated with the number of periodontal sites with CAL>or=4 mm, CAL>or=5 mm, or PD>or=4 mm (greater number for higher HOMA-index values). This relationship disappeared in never-smokers.
Conclusions: Our data support the relationships between metabolic disturbances and periodontitis, with a central role of insulin resistance.