This single-center cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence and structure of cardiometabolic disorders in patients with chronic periodontitis in real-world clinical practice. A cohort of 212 patients (mean age 51.3±8.7 years) from a dental clinic with a verified diagnosis of moderate or severe periodontitis was included. All participants, in addition to dental examination with determination of CPI, PPD, and CAL indices, underwent comprehensive therapeutic and laboratory examination, including blood pressure measurement, determination of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. The results revealed extremely high comorbidity. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 60.4% of patients, and disorders of carbohydrate metabolism (prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus) in 44.3%. Notably, prediabetes was first identified during this screening in 22.2% of individuals. A clear dose-dependent relationship was established: patients with severe periodontitis (CAL ≥5 mm) suffered from hypertension and dysglycemia significantly more often and had higher levels of systemic inflammatory markers (hs-CRP) compared to the moderate severity group. A strong positive correlation was found between the level of clinical attachment loss (CAL) and hs-CRP concentration (r=0.48; p<0.001). The obtained data convincingly indicate that severe chronic periodontitis is a significant marker of systemic ill-health and should be considered by general practitioners as an indication for targeted screening for diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and subclinical inflammation. There is a need to develop clinical algorithms for effective interdisciplinary collaboration between dentists and physicians.
