Sylvie Ndongo Amougou^1,3*, Karl Guy Grégoire Kwedi², Marie Elvire Nokam Abena², Jingi Musa Ahmadou¹, Elise Marie Eya’ane Mendomo², Charles Messanga Bengondo^{2, 3}.

Authors’ affiliations

1. Department of Medicine and Specialties. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. University of Yaounde 1 Cameroon.
2. Department oral and maxillofacial surgery, and Parodontology. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. University of Yaounde, Cameroon.
3. University Teaching Hospital, Yaounde. Cameroon.

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Abstract

Background. Periodontal disease is a multifactorial inflammatory disease affecting the support tissues of the teeth. Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between oral diseases and Essential Hypertension. There is a paucity of data on the relationship between periodontal disease and essential hypertension in Cameroon.

Methods. We carried this cross-sectional comparative study in adults ≥ 21 years, of both sex. Participants were hypertensive (test group), and non-hypertensive (comparison group). The different periodontal indices (plaque index, bleeding index, loss of attachment) were measured during the periodontal examination. Student's test, Chi-square test, and linear regression models were used in the statistical analyses.

Results. A total of 80 participants (40 hypertensives and 40 controls) were enrolled. Their mean ages were 53.3 ± 11.4 years and 42.8 ± 8.2 years respectively. Mean plaque index was 1.54 ± 0.7 in the hypertensives, and 1.36 ± 0.5 in nonhypertensives (p<0.05). Mean bleeding index was 1.88 ± 0.3 in hypertensives and 1.38 ± 0.4 in non-hypertensives (p<0.05). Mean attachment loss was 1.58 ± 0.22 in hypertensive patients and 1.26 ± 0.27 in controls with p <0.05.

Conclusion. Our studies suggest a link between periodontal disease and essential hypertension. Further studies matching the control group in confounding variables are mandatory because of the significant difference in age between the two groups.

Key words: Periodontal disease, essential hypertension, periodontal indices, Yaoundé.