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Abstract
Background
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues and is recognized as one of the most common complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis has significant implications for glycemic control, oral health, and overall quality of life. Despite the increasing burden of diabetes in Pakistan, local evidence regarding the prevalence of periodontitis and its associated factors among patients with T2DM remains limited, particularly in the northwestern region of the country. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of periodontitis and identify factors associated with periodontal disease among adults with T2DM attending a tertiary care hospital in Swat, Pakistan.
Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending the diabetic outpatient department of Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Saidu Sharif, Swat. Participants were selected using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique according to predefined eligibility criteria. Sociodemographic characteristics, diabetes-related information, and oral hygiene practices were collected using a structured questionnaire, while periodontal status was assessed through clinical examination. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and periodontal status. Bivariate analyses were performed to examine associations between participant characteristics and periodontitis. The analyses were conducted using the audited participant-level dataset.
Results
Among the 105 participants, 88 (83.8%) had periodontitis, whereas 17 (16.2%) had no established periodontitis (healthy periodontal status or gingival bleeding only). Moderate periodontitis was the most prevalent condition (34.3%), followed by severe (30.5%) and mild periodontitis (19.0%). Most participants were male (71.4%), aged 46–55 years (38.1%), and had diabetes for 5–10 years (35.2%). More than half of the participants reported daily tooth brushing (51.4%), while only 19.0% practiced interdental cleaning. In the audited dataset, no independent demographic or behavioral factor demonstrated a statistically significant association with periodontitis in the primary bivariate analysis.
Conclusion
Periodontitis was highly prevalent among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary care hospital in Swat, Pakistan, highlighting the substantial burden of periodontal disease in this population. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating routine periodontal assessment, oral health education, and preventive dental care into comprehensive diabetes management programs. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to identify independent predictors of periodontitis and strengthen the evidence base for targeted preventive strategies.