Non‐surgical periodontal therapy reduces coronary heart disease risk markers: a randomized controlled trial

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>Periodontal disease elevates systemic inflammatory markers strongly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of non‐surgical periodontal therapy on systemic C‐reactive protein (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CRP</jats:styled-content>), fibrinogen and white blood cells in CHD patients.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Materials and Methods</jats:title><jats:p>Angiographically proven CHD patients with periodontitis (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 317) were randomized to intervention (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 212) or control group (<jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 105). Primary outcome was reduction in serum <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CRP</jats:styled-content> levels; secondary outcomes were reductions in fibrinogen and white blood cells. Periodontal treatment included scaling, root planing and oral hygiene instructions. Periodontal and systemic parameters were assessed at baseline and at 2‐month follow‐up. Intent‐to‐treat (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ITT</jats:styled-content>) analysis was performed.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Study was completed by 246 subjects (intervention group = 161; control group = 85). Significant improvements in periodontal and systemic parameters were observed in intervention group. The number of subjects with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CRP</jats:styled-content> > 3mg/L in intervention group decreased by 38% and in control group increased by 4%. <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">ITT</jats:styled-content> analysis gave a significant (<jats:italic>χ</jats:italic><jats:sup>2</jats:sup>=4.381, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = 0.036) absolute risk reduction of 12.5%.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>In CHD patients with periodontitis, non‐surgical mechanical periodontal therapy significantly reduced systemic levels of C‐reactive protein, fibrinogen and white blood cells.</jats:p></jats:sec>