Relationship between Periodontal Status and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: This study tested the hypothesis that a relationship exists between periodontal disease status and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The periodontal status of 60 individuals admitted to the ICU of the Dutra University Hospital was determined, including measurement of visible plaque, gingival bleeding, and clinical attachment level. Data were analyzed by Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, unpaired Student's t-test and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients with VAP showed higher prevalence of periodontitis (25%) than those in the control group (12.5%), but without statistical difference (p = 0.22). After multivariate analysis, risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia included diabetes mellitus (OR = 27.76, 95% CI = 1.95-393, p = 0.014), and mechanical ventilation for longer than 10 days (OR = 12.1, 95% CI = 1.65-87.9, p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, no association between periodontitis and ventilator-associated pneumonia was found. The presence of diabetes and invasive mechanical ventilation duration (> 10 days) were risk factors for pneumonia even after the adjustment of variables.