Prevalence and determinants of periodontitis among a population with knee osteoarthritis at the Douala General Hospital (Littoral, Cameroon)

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly evolving multifactorial disorder that affects joints, particularly the knee. Periodontitis is an infection of the tissues supporting the teeth, leading to significant tooth loss. Recent studies suggest an association between Knee OA (KOA) and periodontitis, with the prevalence of periodontitis increasing with the severity of KOA. We aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of periodontitis and the association between the severity of KOA and periodontitis in subjects living with KOA. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient clinic at the Rheumatology unit of the Douala General Hospital between October 2022 and June 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an endo-buccal examination grid, radiological images and medical records. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed, including the relevant variables in the bivariate analysis. Results We included 253 participants (201 women) with a median age of 63 years [54–70]. The mean VAS was 52.7 ± 27.9 mm. The mean Lequesne index was 12.25 ± 5.03. Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) grade 2 was predominant (61.7%), as was tricompartimental KOA (85.4%). The prevalence of periodontitis was 62.5%. Periodontitis was significantly associated with radiological K&L grade 4 (OR: 5.39 [1.27–28.98]; p  = 0.03), poor oral hygiene (OR: 34 [7.46277.71]; p  < 0.001), visits to the dentist [in case of problems] (OR: 8.54 [3.09–28.58]; p  < 0.001) and brushing time (OR: 21.93 [5.66-123.24]; p  < 0.001). Conclusion Periodontitis is common in patients with KOA in Cameroon and is associated with the severity of KOA and poor oral hygiene.