Association between the degree of obstructive sleep apnea and the severity of COVID-19: An explorative retrospective cross-sectional study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on its own, as well as its risk factors, have been found to be associated with the outcome of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the association between the degree of OSA and COVID-19 severity is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate whether or not parameters to clinically evaluate OSA severity and the type of OSA treatment are associated with COVID-19 severity. Patient data from OSA patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were reviewed from outpatients from the Isala Hospital and patients admitted to the Isala Hospital, starting from March until December 2020. Baseline patient data, sleep study parameters, OSA treatment information and hospital admission data were collected. Apnea hypopnea index (AHI), low oxyhemoglobin desaturation (LSAT), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), and the type of OSA treatment were regarded as the independent variables. COVID-19 severity-based on hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) admission, the number of days of hospitalization, and number of intubation and mechanical ventilation days-were regarded as the outcome variables. Multinomial regression analysis, binary logistic regression analysis, and zero-inflated negative binomial regression analysis were used to assess the association between the parameters to clinically evaluate OSA severity and COVID-19 severity. A total of 137 patients were included. Only LSAT was found to be significantly associated with the COVID-19 severity (p<0.05) when COVID-19 severity was dichotomized as non-hospitalized or hospitalized and ICU admission or death. Therefore, our findings showed that LSAT seems to be a significant risk factor for COVID-19 severity. However, the degree of OSA-based on AHI, ODI, and RDI-and OSA treatment were not found to be risk factors for COVID-19 severity when looking at hospital or ICU admission, the number of days of hospitalization, and number of intubation and mechanical ventilation days.

The association between periodontitis and cardiovascular risks in asymptomatic healthy patients

Background

Periodontitis is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease of the supportive tissues of the teeth. Pathophysiological evidence suggests a possible common inflammatory background between periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Pathological and epidemiological associations between these two diseases have been presented, but are still debated. This study aimed to investigate the association between the inflammatory burden of periodontitis and the presence and extent of coronary calcification. Secondary aims were to study other cardiovascular parameters and cardiovascular risk predictors in relation to periodontitis and dental health.

Methods

Healthy periodontitis or non-periodontitis patients 45-70 years of age were included in a prospective cross-sectional study. Full-mouth examinations were performed by a periodontist to determine their Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) score and other dental parameters. To assess the cardiovascular conditions, Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scores, endothelial function assessments by the EndoPAT ™, and several physical and biochemical examinations were performed.

Results

Seventy-one patients were included. Elevated CAC scores and endothelial dysfunction were not significantly related to PISA or dental health. PISA was significantly related to the Framingham and Reynolds CVD risk predictors, but were no longer significant after correction for confounders. The same applied to the significant relations between tooth loss, dental plaque and bleeding scores and the CVD risk predictors.

Conclusions

Periodontitis is associated with increased CVD risk, but is not an independent risk factor. This link is still important to make to bridge the gap between dentistry and general medicine and to identify patients at risk for CVD in an earlier stage.

The Effect of Periodontal Treatment on the Reactive Hyperemia Index. A 1-Year Follow-Up Pilot Study

Background

Periodontitis is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory disease of the supportive tissues of the teeth. In more recent years, remarkable epidemiological and pathophysiological associations between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been presented. Whether or not treatment of periodontitis is valuable for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, has not yet been fully established. In this practice-based pilot study we focused on primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, by investigating the effect of periodontal treatment on the earliest detectable stage of CVD; endothelial dysfunction.

Methods

Otherwise healthy periodontitis and non-periodontitis participants 45–70 years of age were included in the study. One year after completing periodontal (non-surgical and surgical) treatment of the periodontitis patients and 1 year after inclusion of the controls, all baseline measurements were repeated. Full-mouth examinations were performed by a periodontist to determine their Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) score and other dental parameters. To assess the cardiovascular conditions, endothelial function through the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) assessed by the EndoPAT™, and several physical and biochemical parameters were measured.

Results

21 patients with diagnosed, untreated periodontitis and 21 participants without periodontitis were included in this follow-up study. After periodontal therapy in the periodontitis patients, the PISA reduced significantly. The RHI did not show a significant improvement after treatment of the periodontitis patients (−0.1 ± 0.8, p = 0.524). Similarly, other secondary cardiovascular outcome measurements, hsCRP, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, and systolic blood pressure did not improve significantly after periodontal treatment. Controls did not show any significant changes in the RHI, in other CVD parameters and in the PISA after 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

In this practice-based pilot study, periodontal treatment did not improve the endothelial function in otherwise healthy adults with periodontitis. Future studies are needed to be of larger size and could focus on periodontitis patients with co-morbidities to investigate whether periodontal treatment has secondary preventive effect on endothelial function and other CVD parameters.

Clinical Trial Registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [ISRCTN55656827].