Cognitive impairment related to arterial stiffness in cardiovascular disease patients with severe periodontitis

Severe periodontal disease (SPD) associated with systemic peripheral inflammation, cognitive impairment (CI) and arterial stiffness (AS) has been recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CI and arterial stiffness (AS) occur in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients with SPD. A crosssectional case-control study included hospitalized patients with CVD. Demographic characteristics, CVD and atherogenic risk factors were recorded. SPD was diagnosed by clinical and radiographic dental examinations. Dental clinical attachment level (CAL) and CAL % were recorded. A Mini-Mental State Examination test (MMSE) assessed cognition, a MMSE score of < 27 was set as the cut-off point of CI; a score ≥ 27 was considered as no CI. Patients were categorized into: MMSE