Prevalence of high blood pressure in periodontal patients: A pilot study

Abstract

Background. Arterial hypertension and periodontal diseases are pathologies with a high prevalence worldwide. Recent evidence suggests a possible causal relationship between them. Patients with moderate or severe periodontitis tend to have higher blood pressure measurements and a 30% to 70% higher likelihood of developing hypertension. Objectives. The aim of this cross-sectional pilot study was to ascertain the prevalence of high blood pressure in patients with periodontitis. Material and methods. The study included 40 patients diagnosed with periodontitis who required non-surgical periodontal treatment. Demographic, periodontal and clinical characteristics, including blood pressure measurements, were registered. Results. Fifteen percent of the patients were classified as hypertensive (n = 6), 67.5% as high-normal (n = 27) and 17.5% as normotensive (n = 7). Recent studies have estimated that the prevalence of highnormal blood pressure in the general population ranges between 30% and 50%. These findings suggest that patients with periodontal disease are more likely to have elevated blood pressure than patients with healthy periodontal tissues. Conclusions. High-normal blood pressure is associated with a 3 times higher likelihood of developing hypertension, so early detection and prevention are crucial public health strategies. Despite the limitations of this pilot study, it highlights the role of dentists in the prevention, diagnosis and blood pressure control to improve health and cardiovascular risk of patients with periodontitis.