Periodontitis and its association with left ventricular geometry and function: A cross‐sectional study

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the cross-sectional association between periodontal status and left ventricular (LV) geometry and function, an early and prognostically relevant marker of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Data were drawn from two population-based cohorts in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP): SHIP-START-2 (N = 2333) and SHIP-TREND-0 (N = 4420). Periodontal status (half mouth protocol) was assessed by bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and the number of missing teeth. Periodontitis was classified using a modified version of the 2018 framework based exclusively on clinical measurements without radiographic data. LV geometry and function were assessed using echocardiography and analyzed using adjusted regression models. RESULTS: Mean PD, CAL, and the number of missing teeth were positively associated with LV volumes and mass (end-diastolic volume (PD: β = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.13-0.74; CAL: β = 0.21; 95%CI: 0.07-0.36; teeth: β = 0.06; 95%CI: 0.03-0.09), end-systolic volume (PD: β = 0.21; 95%CI: 0.05-0.37; CAL: β = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.05-0.20; teeth: β = 0.03; 95%CI: 0.02-0.05), and LV mass (PD: β = 1.31; 95%CI: 0.58-2.03; CAL: β = 0.52; 95%CI: 0.18-0.86; teeth: β = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.10-0.24)), increasing across periodontitis stages (p < 0.05). Stage IV was associated with a reduced ejection fraction (β = -1.28; 95%CI: -2.45 to -0.12), though other functional markers were not significant. CONCLUSION: Periodontitis markers were linked to cardiac remodeling, notably increased LV volume and mass. The findings support integrating periodontal assessment and treatment into cardiovascular risk evaluation. Although statistically significant, effect sizes were small and clinical relevance remains uncertain. Further research is needed to clarify the clinical implications.