Oral Health Parameters of Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Undergoing Heamodialysis- A Comparative Study

Objective of study: There is rising incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide. Although the oral health parameters have been examined and reported among CKD patients, investigations of diabetic heamodialytic patients are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess and compare dental and periodontal health parameters between diabetic and non diabetic heamodialysis patients in Karachi. Materials & methods: A total of 100 heamodialysis patients were allocated as diabetic and non diabetic as per their HbA1c level and examined for dental caries and periodontal health using DMFT, PI, CPI and CAL indices with protocol given by WHO. Socio-demographics and medical history was recorded. All examinations were performed in pre-dialysis phase and by single-blinded examiner. Statistical tests of Chi square and student-tests were used for comparing percentages and mean differences between groups (p-value <0.05). Findings: Among all socio-demographic variables, distribution of gender and duration of dialysis were not significantly different in between groups. There is a significant difference in all indices between both groups. DMFT mean was high among non diabetic patients and plaque scores were high among diabetics. Bleeding was more among diabetic patients and CAL showed more than 6mm attachment loss in same group. Discussion: This study reveals that diabetic patients exhibit higher tendency for bleeding on probing, moderate level of attachment loss and abundance of plaque deposits as compared to non diabetic group. There is a need of further research to establish associations between diabetic nephropathy and oral health.