Frequency of periodontitis in patients with chronic kidney disease reporting to Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a systemic condition that can exacerbate periodontal disease due to shared inflammatory and immunological mechanisms. The bidirectional relationship between CKD and periodontitis may contribute to the progression of both conditions. Understanding the prevalence of periodontitis among CKD patients is crucial for improving interdisciplinary care and patient outcomes. Objective: To determine the frequency of periodontitis among patients with chronic kidney disease presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Departments of Periodontology and Nephrology, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, from December 31, 2022, to June 30, 2023. A total of 105 participants were recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling, with sample size calculated via the WHO sample size calculator. Inclusion criteria included CKD patients aged ≥17 years, with or without renal replacement therapy, or those awaiting kidney transplantation. Exclusion criteria encompassed patients with genetic periodontal disorders, systemic diseases like diabetes, those on medications affecting gingival health, pregnant women, smokers, and individuals unwilling to provide consent. Periodontal assessment involved measuring probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) using a Michigan ‘O’ Probe. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, with a significance threshold of p ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 45.05 years (SD ±13.84), with a male-to-female distribution of 55.2% and 44.8%, respectively. Periodontitis was identified in 71 patients (67.6%). A significant association was found between age and periodontitis, with higher prevalence in the 41–60 years age group (p = 0.042). However, no statistically significant association was observed with gender (p = 0.352) or tooth brushing frequency (p = 0.824). Conclusion: Periodontitis is highly prevalent among CKD patients, especially in middle-aged individuals. These findings highlight the need to incorporate routine periodontal screening and care into the multidisciplinary management of chronic kidney disease to potentially mitigate its systemic impact.