Association of Osteoarthritis and Periodontitis in Sample of Iraqi Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Background : Osteoarthritis(OA and Periodontitis (PD) share physiopathological characteristics ,and many previous studies show association of PD with other chronic musculoskeletal and bone diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoporosis. Objectives : To investigate the association between OA and PD in a sample of Iraqi patientswith knee OA. Patients and Method : Acase-control study included 150 patients with OA and 150 healthy controls. The WHO community periodontal index was used to assess periodontitis, Periodontitis was defined as a CPI greater than or equal to ''code 3''. Binary regression analysis used to assess the predictors of periodontitis among OA patients Results : OA patients were about 2.3 folds more likely to have Periodontitis, (odds ratio = 2.29, P. value < 0.05). In OA group only smoking showed a significant correlation with Periodontitis; where out of the 38 cases with periodontitis 7 (18.4%) were smokers compared to only 6 (5.4%) of 112 with no Periodontitis, (P. value = 0.013), Other variables showed no significant correlations, (P. value > 0.05).No statistically significant correlation had been found between prevalence of Periodontitis and severity of OA represented by KL score, (P. value > 0.05). Conclusions : Patients with knee OA were about 2.3 folds more likely to have Periodontitis compared to healthy controls. Presence of Periodontitis was not affected by age, gender, Occupation, Alcohol consumption, BMI or severity of disease in knee OA patients.