TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults with treated hypertension, periodontitis is associated with higher mean systolic blood pressure (BP) and with increased odds of unsuccessful hypertensive treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Hypertension.

Davide Pietropaoli, D.D.S., Ph.D., from the University of L’Aquila in Italy, and colleagues retrospectively analyzed cross-sectional nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009 to 2014 for adults with hypertension aged ≥30 years with and without periodontitis. BP was examined as both a continuous and categorical variable according to the presence or absence of periodontitis and its clinical parameters.

The researchers found that in the presence of periodontitis, mean systolic BP was about 2.3 to 3.0 mm Hg higher among treated adults with hypertension. After multiple adjustments, periodontitis was associated with unsuccessful antihypertensive treatment with higher odds by increased disease severity.

“A good periodontal status is associated with a better SBP profile during antihypertensive therapy by a magnitude of about 2.3 to 3 mm Hg,” the authors write. “Low-grade systemic inflammation that is typical of periodontitis might explain this finding because it has been regarded as the mechanism underlying the association of periodontitis with several cardiovascular risk factors and diseases.”

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