The association between bronchial asthma and periodontitis: A case-control study in Jordan

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our aim is to study the association between bronchial asthma (BA) and periodontitis in Jordan. Methods: A case control study of 260 subjects; 130 with BA and 130 without BA (controls) were recruited at a university hospital in Jordan. BA cases were physician-diagnosed and on anti-asthma medications for 12 months. Periodontitis was defined as the presence of ≥ 4 teeth with ≥ 1 site with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 4 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 3 mm. Results: Mean age of participants was 45.3 years (range, 18–65) and 58.1% were females. Patients with BA had lower education and tended to live in rural areas. Periodontitis was present in 52 (40.0%) patients with BA and 26 (20.0%) in the control group, p < 0.005. Binary logistic regression indicated that patients with BA were more likely to have periodontitis than controls [adjusted odd ratio (OR) = 2.91, 95% CI (1.39–6.11), p = 0.005]. Patients with BA had higher percentage of sites with: PPD ≥ 3 mm, CAL ≥ 3 mm, and CAL ≥ 4 mm than controls, p < 0.05. The risk of periodontitis [OR = 5.27, 95% CI (1.59–17.51)] and CAL ≥ 3 mm were higher in patients on oral corticosteroids compared to inhaled corticosteroids, p < 0.05. Conclusions: Adult Jordanians with bronchial asthma are at higher risk of periodontitis, particularly those on oral corticosteroids. Large and longitudinal studies are needed to better understand this significant association.

KEYWORDS:

• Morbidity and mortality
• epidemiology
• physiological disorders
• quality of life
• treatment

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Mr. Bryan Simmons for proofreading the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partially supported by Jordan University of Science and Technology Graduate Students Research Fund.