Influence of body mass index and obesity upon the association between periodontitis and sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES We aimed to explore the association between periodontitis and sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) and the possible influence of body mass index (BMI) and obesity upon this association. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case-control study was made involving 114 subjects (60 patients with SAHS and 54 controls). A thorough periodontal evaluation was carried out, and demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS Periodontitis was more prevalent in SAHS (80%) than in the controls (48.1%). The recorded statistically significant association (OR = 4.31; p = 0.001) was seen to weaken in the multivariate model (OR = 2.03; p = 0.204), with BMI adopting a more influential role. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was correlated to probing depth (PD) (r = 0.40; p = 0.002) and clinical attachment level (CAL) (r = 0.41; p = 0.001). The periodontal parameters were seen to be higher in obese SAHS patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) than in non-obese SAHS patients (BMI < 30 kg/m2). CONCLUSIONS The greater prevalence and severity of periodontitis in patients with SAHS were fundamentally influenced by BMI. On the other hand, periodontitis was more severe in patients with severe SAHS. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Patients with SAHS have a greater prevalence of periodontitis, fundamentally related to increased obesity. Therefore, obese subjects with SAHS should be screened for periodontal disease.