Association between asthma and periodontal disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The aim of this systematic review (SR) is to evaluate the association between asthma and periodontal disease.

Methods: An electronic search without date or language restrictions was carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and LILACS until May 2016. In addition, manual searches and searches of the gray literature were conducted. The search process, data analysis, and quality assessment were performed by two independent reviewing authors. Eligibility criteria included prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-controls, and randomized clinical trials.

Results: The search and selection process yielded 21 studies, published between 1979 and 2017. The meta-analysis showed a statistically significant difference for the parameters of gingival bleeding, plaque index, and gingival index for participants with asthma (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Data from this SR strongly suggest the association of asthma with periodontal disease.