This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to explore interactions between signs of
periodontal inflammation and systemic parameters in athletes. Members of German squads with
available data on sports medical and oral examination were included. Groups were divided by
gingival inflammation (median of papillary bleeding index, PBI median) and signs of periodontitis
(Periodontal Screening Index, PSI 3). Age, gender, anthropometry, blood parameters, echocardiography,
sports performance on ergometer, and maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) were evaluated.
Eighty-five athletes (f = 51%, 20.6 3.5 years) were included (PBI < 0.42: 45%; PSI 3: 38%).
Most associations were not statistically significant. Significant group differences were found for
body fat percentage and body mass index. All blood parameters were in reference ranges. Minor
differences in hematocrit, hemoglobin, basophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, urea, and HDL
cholesterol were found for PBI, in uric acid for PSI. Echocardiographic parameters (n = 40) did not
show any associations. Athletes with PSI 3 had lower VO2max values (55.9 6.7 mL/min/kg
vs. 59.3 7.0 mL/min/kg; p = 0.03). In exercise tests (n = 30), athletes with PBI < 0.42 achieved
higher relative maximal load on the cycling ergometer (5.0 0.5 W/kg vs. 4.4 0.3 W/kg; p = 0.03).
Despite the limitations of this study, potential associations between signs of periodontal inflammation
and body composition, blood parameters, and performance were identified. Further studies on the
systemic impact of oral inflammation in athletes, especially regarding performance, are necessary.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:89224 |
| Date | 24 January 2024 |
| Creators | Merle, Cordula Leonie, Richter, Lisa, Challakh, Nadia, Haak, Rainer, Schmalz, Gerhard, Needleman, Ian, Rüdrich, Peter, Wolfarth, Bernd, Ziebolz, Dirk, Wüstenfeld, Jan |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Source Sets | Hochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:article, info:eu-repo/semantics/article, doc-type:Text |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| Relation | 5161 |
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