Gum Disease is Strong Predictor of Mortality in Diabetic Patients
Dentists and physicians have long understood that diabetes is a complicating factor for gum disease. New research is now showing that the opposite is also true, that the existence of chronic gum infections can seriously impact the control of diabetes (1). Periodontal disease is more severe and occurs with higher frequency in diabetic patients (2).
Furthermore, periodontal disease contributes to increased mortality associated with diabetes. Research has shown that chronic oral infections are a strong predictor of death from cardiorenal disease in a diabetic population.
Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Disease studied 628 Pima Indians with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for factors such as duration of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use and other factors, they conclude that periodontal disease is strongly predictive of mortality from ischemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy (3). Those with severe periodontal disease had a 28.4 % death rate and those with no or little periodontal disease had a 3.7% death rate (4). This represents an almost 700% increase in death comparing diabetics with and without advanced gum disease.
Periodontal disease in people with diabetes makes them twice as likely to die from kidney failure or heart disease (5). When the gums pull far away from the teeth due to severe gum disease, harmful bacteria and bacterial by-products (i.e. lipopolysaccharides, endotoxins, etc.) from the mouth are allowed to enter the bloodstream, affecting these organs directly and through the effects of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Prudent health care dictates that dentists and physicians recognize both the direct and indirect relationships of these conditions, and that every effort is made to obtain control of periodontal gum tissues which will allow better medical management of diabetes and renal disease.
- 1. Soskolne WA, Klinger A, et. al., The Relationship Between Periodontal Diseases and Diabetes: An Overview, Annals of Periodontology 2001.6.1.91.
-2. www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/america/pdf/chapter23.pdf
-3. Jan 2005 ADA News Release; http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=1219
-4. Saremi A, Nelson RG, et.al., Periodontal Disease and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Care, Vol 28, No.1, Jan 2005. p27-32.
-5. 10/03 ADA News Release, Jeffcoat M.http://www.ada.org/public/media/releases/0310_release07.asp
Furthermore, periodontal disease contributes to increased mortality associated with diabetes. Research has shown that chronic oral infections are a strong predictor of death from cardiorenal disease in a diabetic population.
Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Disease studied 628 Pima Indians with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting for factors such as duration of diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use and other factors, they conclude that periodontal disease is strongly predictive of mortality from ischemic heart disease and diabetic nephropathy (3). Those with severe periodontal disease had a 28.4 % death rate and those with no or little periodontal disease had a 3.7% death rate (4). This represents an almost 700% increase in death comparing diabetics with and without advanced gum disease.
Periodontal disease in people with diabetes makes them twice as likely to die from kidney failure or heart disease (5). When the gums pull far away from the teeth due to severe gum disease, harmful bacteria and bacterial by-products (i.e. lipopolysaccharides, endotoxins, etc.) from the mouth are allowed to enter the bloodstream, affecting these organs directly and through the effects of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Prudent health care dictates that dentists and physicians recognize both the direct and indirect relationships of these conditions, and that every effort is made to obtain control of periodontal gum tissues which will allow better medical management of diabetes and renal disease.
- 1. Soskolne WA, Klinger A, et. al., The Relationship Between Periodontal Diseases and Diabetes: An Overview, Annals of Periodontology 2001.6.1.91.
-2. www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/america/pdf/chapter23.pdf
-3. Jan 2005 ADA News Release; http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=1219
-4. Saremi A, Nelson RG, et.al., Periodontal Disease and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes Care, Vol 28, No.1, Jan 2005. p27-32.
-5. 10/03 ADA News Release, Jeffcoat M.http://www.ada.org/public/media/releases/0310_release07.asp
