Effects of periodontal treatment on lung function and exacerbation frequency in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic periodontitis: a 2-year pilot randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the direct effects of periodontal therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with chronic periodontitis (CP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a pilot randomized controlled trial, 60 COPD patients with CP were randomly assigned to receive scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment, supragingival scaling treatment, or oral hygiene instructions only with no periodontal treatment. We evaluated their periodontal indexes, respiratory function, and COPD exacerbations at baseline, 6 months, 1, and 2 years.

RESULTS: Compared with the control group, measurements of periodontal indexes were significantly improved in patients in two treatment groups at 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up (all p < 0.05). Overall, the means of forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and FEV1 were significantly higher in the two therapy groups compared with the control group during the follow-up (p < 0.05). In addition, the frequencies of COPD exacerbation were significantly lower in the two therapy groups than in the control group at 2-year follow-up (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results from this pilot trial suggest that periodontal therapy in COPD patients with CP may improve lung function and decrease the frequency of COPD exacerbation.