The Association Between Bronchial Asthma and Periodontitis: A Case-control Study in Jordan

Objective: Our aim is to study the association between bronchial asthma (BA) and periodontitis in Jordan.

Methods: A case control study of 260 subjects; 130 with BA and 130 without BA (controls) were recruited at a university hospital in Jordan. BA cases were physician-diagnosed and on anti-asthma medications for 12 months. Periodontitis was defined as the presence of ≥ 4 teeth with ≥ 1 site with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 4 mm and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 3 mm.

Results: Mean age of participants was 45.3 years (range, 18-65) and 58.1% were females. Patients with BA had lower education and tended to live in rural areas. Periodontitis was present in 52 (40.0%) patients with BA and 26 (20.0%) in the control group, p < 0.005. Binary logistic regression indicated that patients with BA were more likely to have periodontitis than controls [adjusted odd ratio (OR) = 2.91, 95% CI (1.39-6.11), p = 0.005]. Patients with BA had higher percentage of sites with: PPD ≥ 3 mm, CAL ≥ 3 mm, and CAL ≥ 4 mm than controls, p < 0.05. The risk of periodontitis [OR = 5.27, 95% CI (1.59-17.51)] and CAL ≥ 3 mm were higher in patients on oral corticosteroids compared to inhaled corticosteroids, p < 0.05.

Conclusions: Adult Jordanians with bronchial asthma are at higher risk of periodontitis, particularly those on oral corticosteroids. Large and longitudinal studies are needed to better understand this significant association.