Pre-existing cardiovascular disease and periodontitis: a follow-up study.

Periodontal infections in individuals with pre-existing heart disease are believed to increase the risk for future coronary heart disease (CHD) events. The goal of this study was to search for an association between periodontitis and CHD events among individuals with pre-existing heart disease, reported in the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Dentate adults (n = 636) with a history of pre-existing cardiovascular disease were followed for CHD events. The presence of periodontitis and gingivitis did not increase CHD risk among these at-risk individuals (hazard ratio [HR], 0.97, and 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-1.31; and HR, 1.09, and 95% CI, 0.79-1.50, respectively). When limited to individuals with a self-reported prior heart attack, periodontitis was associated with a 34% decreased CHD risk (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.42-1.05). It is concluded that periodontitis or gingivitis does not elevate CHD risk among individuals with a prior heart attack or self-reported pre-existing cardiovascular disease.