Periodontitis, higher risk of death if you take Covid-19. 8 out of 10 Romanians suffer from this disease

Periodontitis (popularly called “periodontitis”), an infection that affects the gums and can lead to tooth loss, has serious implications if the person suffering from this problem takes Covid-19, increasing the chances that the disease is serious or lead to death.

This was concluded by researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, the McGill University of Montreal and the University of Qatar, whose study was published on Monday in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

“The result of this investigation showed that periodontitis is significantly associated with the severity of damage by Covid-19 and the development of its complications; therefore, patients with periodontal disease should consult their dentist to obtain the proper diagnosis and treatment and thus reduce the risk of complications if they become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus “, according to Prof. Mariano Sanz, one of the coordinators of the study and co-director of the ETEP Research Group (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal Diseases) of the Complutense University of Madrid.

“It has been shown that periodontal disease and mainly periodontitis,” says Professor Sanz, “act as a complementary factor in increasing infectivity and severity of Covid-19 disease, which once again highlights the need for implement preventive measures and therapies “. the general burden of periodontitis ”.

The results of this statistical study conducted with data from 568 people showed that periodontitis patients are almost nine times more likely to die and four times more likely to need assisted ventilation if infected with Covid-19.

This, according to the study leaders, means that periodontitis patients are more likely to develop an aberrant immune and inflammatory response, the so-called “cytokine storm” responsible for the rapid deterioration of many Covid-19 patients.

Periodontal disease or periodontitis, as it is popularly known, is one of the main reasons why Romanians end up in the dental office. Unfortunately, most seek treatment when it is too late. The numbers prove it: 8 out of 10 Romanians suffer from this disease. Treatment is very complex and quite expensive, but if intervened early, periodontal disease can be kept under control.