Periodontal status of hypertensive patients in hospital settings in Kinshasa

Introduction Periodontal disease may contribute to the development or aggravation of high blood pressure (HBP). Conversely, hypertension increases susceptibility to periodontal deterioration. Despite the high prevalence of hypertension in the Congolese population, no periodontal profile of Congolese adults with hypertension has yet been established. Purpose This study aimed to describe the periodontal status of hypertensive patients receiving care in hospitals in Kinshasa and to identify associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to May 2024 in two medical institutions in Kinshasa. Patients aged ≥18 years with diagnosed hypertension who provided informed consent were included. Patients with prior periodontal treatment, leukaemia, pregnancy, or diabetes were excluded. A single trained and calibrated examiner collected demographic, clinical, and periodontal data. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0. The chi-square test and multinomial regression analysis were applied to determine factors associated with periodontal status. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Results A total of 227 hypertensive patients with a mean age of 57.9 ± 11.5 years participated in the study. Periodontal disease was present in 93.8% of participants. Age was identified as an independent predictor of severe periodontitis (OR = 17.86; 95% CI [3.58–89.07]). Duration of hypertension independently predicted both moderate and severe periodontitis. Patients with hypertension lasting at least four years showed an increased risk of moderate periodontitis (OR = 8.02; 95% CI [1.37–47.06]) and severe periodontitis (OR = 10.05; 95% CI [1.75–57.65]). Gingivitis was not significantly associated with periodontal disease severity. Conclusion Hypertensive patients demonstrated a high prevalence of periodontal disease. These findings support the integration of oral health assessment, particularly periodontal screening, into routine hypertension management.