Frequency and Factors Associated with Periodontitis in Congolese Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease which is highly prevalent worldwide. The control of periodontal risk factor network is of paramount importance for the management of the disease. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and identify the factors associated with periodontitis in Congolese patients. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in four medical centers in the city of Kinshasa between April 2017 and April 2018. The study included patients aged at least 12 years old who consulted the dental services of these centers and who met the inclusion criteria. The participants underwent a structured interview and a clinical periodontal examination. The latter involved the entire dentition, and periodontal pocket and attachment level measurements were taken at six sites per tooth. The plaque and bleeding index were recorded. Logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: The study included 827 patients and 42% of them had periodontitis. The most represented age group was between 20 and 29 years old. In multivariate analysis, age greater than or equal to 35 years, OR = 2.45 CI 95% (1.77 - 3.45), and the amount of plaque expressed as plaque index ≥ 1, OR = 2 CI 95% (1.31 - 3.07) were factors associated with periodontitis. Conclusion: Factors associated with periodontitis found in this study are age ≥35 years and the amount of plaque expressed as plaque index ≥ 1. The latter reveals the importance of good oral hygiene.