A Pilot Study of Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels in Periodontitis Cases and Healthy Controls

Background: Periodontitis is associated with glycemic control in patients with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine if glycosylated hemoglobin is elevated in patients with periodontitis who have not been diagnosed with diabetes.Methods: Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed using a chairside test in 59 adults without diabetes but with periodontitis (having at least five teeth with probing depth [PD] ≥5 mm, bleeding on probing [BOP], and clinical attachment or radiographic bone loss) and 53 healthy controls (PDs ≤4 mm and BOP ≤15%). Groups were compared using the t test and linear regression. Patients with HbA1c levels ≥6% were compared using the Fisher exact test and logistic regression.Results: Periodontitis cases were more likely than controls to be male (68% versus 38%; P = 0.002) and current or former smokers (P = 0.002). Cases had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) than controls (27.6 kg/m2 versus 25.5 kg/m2; P = 0.018) but were of similar age (51.3 years versus 50.9 ye...