Periodontal disease and risk for neuropathic foot ulceration in type 2 diabetes

Aims Diabetic neuropathy (DN) has been associated with oral dryness, tooth loss and an increased risk for foot ulceration, but the association between periodontal problems and DN has not been fully elucidated This study investigated whether the risk for neuropathic foot ulceration (DM-NFUR) was associated with periodontal disease (PD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus Methods This cross-sectional study examined 122 patients with type 2 diabetes for PD, findings were compared with results for presence of DM-NFUR PD seventy was classified as none/mild (NM-PD), moderate/severe (MS-PD) and edentulous (E) Results NM-PD was found in 40 2% patients, MS-PD, in 32 0%, and 27 8% were edentulous DM-NFUR was detected in 18.4% of the patients in the NM-PD group, in 68 2% in the MS-PD group, and in 61 8% of completely edentulous individuals PD was significantly correlated with DM-NFUR (p less than or similar to 0.001) After adjustment for sex, age, diabetes duration, dental health care and education, PD and edentulism were independently associated with DM-NFUR (odds ratio(adjusted); 6.6, 95% Cl 2 3-18 8, p <= 0.001 and odds ratio(adjusted) 4 9,95% Cl 1 6-15.3, p <= 0.01) Conclusions Patients with DM-NFUR have substantially more MS-PD and edentulism Further studies should evaluate whether diabetic neuropathy is a risk factor for PD (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved