A meta-analysis on the association between obstructive sleep apnea and periodontitis

Purpose The present meta-analysis aimed to evaluate quantitively the recent scientific evidence regarding the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and periodontitis. Methods Databases searched were PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Publications were included according to the inclusion criteria. The following outcomes were evaluated: the prevalence of periodontitis, probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), the percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI). The statistical analysis was processed using the software STATA. Results Thirteen eligible studies comprising a total of 31,800 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed an increased prevalence of periodontitis in OSA populations compared to controls. Both PD and CAL were increased in OSA populations compared with controls. (Prevalence of periodontitis: OR 2.348; 95%CI 2.221-2.482; PD: SMD = 0.681, 95% CI: 0.062-1.301, Z = 2.61, P = 0.031; CAL: SMD = 0.694, 95% CI: 0.167-1.22, Z = 2.58, P = 0.01). The study also found significantly increased BOP in patients with OSA after heterogeneity was clarified. (SMD = 0.357, 95% CI: 0.079-0.635, Z = 2.52, P = 0.012). Conclusions The findings suggest that OSA was associated with an increased prevalence of periodontitis.