Background: Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and periodontal diseases (PDs). The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the existence and magnitude of this association.
Materials and methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted looking for case-control, cross-sectional, cohort studies and population surveys including patients with measures of MetS and PD. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cochrane library databases were used for the search by 2 independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association for coexistence of MetS and PD.
Results: A total of 20 studies were included in the review, from an initial search of 3486 titles. Only 1 study reported longitudinal data on the onset of MetS components in association with periodontal measures. However, several studies investigated coexistence. A random effects meta-analysis showed that the presence of MetS is associated with the presence of periodontitis in a total of 36 337 subjects (odds ratio = 1.71; 95% confidence interval = 1.42 to 2.03). When only studies with "secure" diagnoses were included (n = 16 405), the magnitude of association increased (odds ratio = 2.09; 95% confidence interval = 1.28 to 3.44). Moderate heterogeneity was detected (I(2) = 53.6%; P = .004).
Conclusions: This review presents clear evidence for an association between MetS and periodontitis. The direction of the association and factors influencing it should be investigated by longitudinal and treatment studies. Periodontal diagnostic procedures should be routinely carried out in MetS patients.