Periodontal Disease as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose— Chronic infectious diseases may increase the risk of stroke. We investigated whether periodontal disease, including periodontitis and gingivitis, is a risk factor for cerebral ischemia. Methods— We performed a case-control study with 303 patients examined within 7 days after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, 300 population controls, and 168 hospital controls with nonvascular and noninflammatory neurological diseases. All subjects received a complete clinical and radiographic dental examination. The individual mean clinical attachment loss measured at 4 sites per tooth served as the main indicator for periodontitis. Results— Patients had higher clinical attachment loss than population ( P 6 mm) had a 4.3-times-higher (95% confidence interval, 1.85 to 10.2) risk of cerebral ischemia than subjects with mild or without periodontitis (≤3 mm). Severe periodontitis was a risk factor in men but not women and in younger ( Conclusions— Our study indicates that periodontal disease, a treatable condition, is an independent risk factor for cerebral ischemia in men and younger subjects.