Abstract
Background
Periodontal disease is regarded as the sixth complication of diabetes mellitus. The association of periodontitis with diabetic retinopathy is controversial.
Aims
The study aimed to assess the association of periodontitis with diabetic retinopathy.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at a diabetes centre in Omdurman, Sudan during the period from July to September 2018. One hundred and fifty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes were interviewed using a structured checklist. The demographic data and diabetes complications including retinopathy were recorded. An experienced dentist assessed the participants for periodontitis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 20, New York) was used for data analysis. A P-value of >0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Out of 159 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (65.4 per cent females), their age mean +/- SD was 58.13 +/- 9.96, periodontal diseases were found in 22.0 per cent of patients, and retinopathy was present in 34.6 per cent, while the number of lost teeth was 3.86 +/- 3.05. Between patients, periodontal disease (+) vs. (-), the incidence rate of the followings did not differ retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and coronary history. However, those with periodontal disease, compared with those without, had significantly more lost teeth P-value<0.05.
Conclusion
The number of lost teeth was higher among patients with diabetic retinopathy. However, a cause and effect cannot be withdrawn. Further larger multi-centre studies assessing the association of retinopathy with the severity of periodontal disease and controlling for other causes of teeth loss are needed.