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HARRISBURG, Pa., USA: A study has provided new evidence for the importance of treating periodontal disease in patients with chronic systemic diseases. The study of almost 340,000 people established that periodontal therapy reduced hospitalizations and medical costs by up to $5,600 in patients with other systemic conditions, such as diabetes and stroke.
From 2005 to 2009, 338,891 individuals were recruited for the study. All participants had periodontal disease and one or more of the following conditions: Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy.
Comparing the insurance data of patients who had received periodontal treatment and those who had not been treated, the researchers found that medical costs and hospitalizations were significantly reduced in the first group. According to the study, periodontal treatment was associated with a decrease in annual medical costs of 40.2 percent ($2,480) in diabetes patients, of 40.9 percent ($5,681) in patients with cerebrovascular disease, of 10.7 percent ($1,090) in patients with coronary heart disease and of 73.7 percent ($2,433) in pregnant patients. However, no change in annual medical costs was observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
With regard to hospitalizations, the researchers found that admissions decreased by 39.4 percent, 21.2 percent, and 28.6 percent in patients with Type 2 diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, and coronary heart disease, respectively.
According to the latest figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 47 percent of U.S. adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. The condition is more common in men (56.4 percent) than in women (38.4 percent). It is also more common in people living below the federal poverty level (65.4 percent), those with less than a high school education (66.9 percent), and current smokers (64.2 percent).
The study, titled "Periodontal Therapy Improves Outcomes in Systemic Conditions: Insurance Claims Evidence," was presented at the Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the American Association for Dental Research on March 21. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with dental insurance provider United Concordia.
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