Publication: Prevalence and Severity of Gingival Enlargement Among Antihypertensive Drug Users: A cross-sectional study
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Drug-induced gingival enlargement is a well-known consequence of the administration
of some antihypertensive drugs, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors,
beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Objective
To determine the prevalence and severity of antihypertensive drug-induced gingival
enlargement and to assess the probable risk factors associated with gingival
enlargement.
Method
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in patients attending the
Outpatient Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Chitwan Medical
College and Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal, from July 2023 to May
2024. A total of 246 patients of both genders taking antihypertensive medications for
a variable period and meeting all inclusion criteria were selected for the presence of
gingival enlargement and classified by severity. Descriptive analysis was performed in
the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, v.23.0.) using the chi-square test.
Result
A total of 210 (85.36%) subjects taking antihypertensive drugs appeared to have
gingival enlargement. Among them, 86 (40.95%), 69 (32.86%) and 55 (26.19%) were
taking calcium channel blockers, β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme
inhibitors, respectively. Regarding its severity, a marked severity was observed in
patients taking calcium channel blockers followed by angiotensin converting enzyme
inhibitors and beta-blockers accounting for 51 (56.0%), 19 (29.7%) and 13 (14.3%),
respectively.
Conclusion
Patients taking antihypertensive medications are at high risk for gingival enlargement,
and inflammation is considered an important cofactor for the expression of this
effect.
KEY WORDS
Antihypertensive drugs, Drug-induced gingival enlargement, Prevalence, Severity
Description
Kafle S,1 Shrestha E,1 Dhital BM2
1Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology
2Department of Cardiology
Chitwan Medical College and Teaching Hospital
Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
Keywords
Antihypertensive drugs, Drug-induced gingival enlargement, Prevalence, Severity