Cross-sectional analysis of periodontitis and peripheral artery disease association: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2004

Utilizing 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets, this cross-sectional analysis evaluates the relationship of periodontitis with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among adults in the United States. Our investigation employed NHANES 1999 to 2004 datasets to quantify the periodontitis-PAD association. Clinical classifications applied Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Periodontics (CDC/AAP) diagnostic thresholds. An ankle-brachial index below 0.9 in any leg defined PAD. Multivariable logistic regression quantified this relationship, complemented with stratified subgroup assessments for robustness verification. Within the cohort of 4133 individuals (mean ± standard deviation age: 56.8 ± 12.1 years; female proportion: 46.8%), periodontal disease affected 16.7% (n = 690). PAD prevalence reached 4.4% (n = 182). Comparative analysis revealed elevated PAD frequency in periodontitis subjects versus non-periodontitis controls (8.1% [56/690] vs 3.7% [126/3443]). Following comprehensive covariate adjustment, periodontitis maintained independent association with PAD (OR = 1.49; 95% CI:1.04–2.13; P -value = .03). Stratified analyses indicated absence of significant interaction effects (all interaction P -values > .05). Analysis of this nationally representative American population reveals periodontitis as an independent predictor of heightened PAD probability. Prospective investigations remain imperative to determine causality.