Association of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth with carotid plaque and abnormal carotid intima-media thickness: a retrospective analysis

Objective: We investigated the association of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth with carotid artery plaque and abnormal mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) ≥ 1.0 mm. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1502 control participants and 1552 participants with severely damaged endodontically infected tooth who received routine medical and dental checkup in Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital was performed. Carotid plaque and CIMT were measured with B-mode tomographic ultrasound. Data were analyzed using logistic and linear regression. Results: Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth group had a significantly higher prevalence of carotid plaque (41.62%) compared to 32.22% of carotid plaque in control group. Participants with severely damaged endodontically infected tooth had a significantly higher prevalence of abnormal CIMT (16.17%) and a significantly increased level of CIMT (0.79 ± 0.16 mm) in comparison to 10.79% of abnormal CIMT and 0.77 ± 0.14 mm CIMT in control participants. Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was significantly related with formation of carotid plaque [1.37(1.18–1.60), P < 0.001], top quartile length [1.21(1.02–1.44), P = 0.029] and top quartile thickness [1.27(1.08–1.51), P = 0.005] of carotid plaque and abnormal CIMT [1.47(1.18–1.83), P < 0.001]. Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was significantly associated with both single [1.277(1.056–1.546), P = 0.012] and multiple carotid plaques [1.488(1.214–1.825), P < 0.001] and instable carotid plaques [1.380(1.167–1.632), P < 0.001]. Presence of severely damaged endodontically infected tooth increased 0.588 mm of carotid plaque length (P = 0.001), 0.157 mm of carotid plaque thickness (P < 0.001) and 0.015 mm of CIMT (P = 0.005). Conclusion: Severely damaged endodontically infected tooth was associated with carotid plaque and abnormal CIMT. Clinical relevance: Early treatment of endodontically infected tooth is warranted.