# Influence of Myeloperoxidase Levels on Periodontal Disease: An Applied Clinical Study
## 3 Results  
The demographic and serological characteristics of the enrolled patients are shown in Table 1. All groups were matched for age and sex, and they did not presented any statistically significant differences regarding education levels, smoking, BMI, and serological features (Table 1). Compared to healthy controls, patients with periodontitis, CDH and a combination of periodontitis and CVD presented a higher value of hs-CRP (\(p<0.001\)). Moreover, patients with CHD and periodontitis plus CHD presented no significant differences regarding past CVD events. In Table 2 are represented dental characteristics of all enrolled patients. Compared with CHD and control patients, subjects with periodontitis and periodontitis plus CVD showed higher periodontal parameters (CAL, PD, BOP, PI) and smaller number of teeth (\(p<0.001\)) (Table 2). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline  & **Controls (N = 31)** & **Periodontitis (N = 31)** & **CVD (N = 31)** & **Periodontitis + CVD (N = 31)** \\ \hline Age (years) & 52 (48; 56) & 53 (47; 57) & 52 (46; 58) & 53 (47; 56) \\ \hline Gender (male/female) & 15/16 & 16/15 & 14/17 & 16/15 \\ \hline _Education level_ & & & & \\ \hline Primary school, n (\%) & 11 (35.4) & 12 (38.7) & 11 (35.4) & 12 (38.7) \\ \hline High school, n (\%) & 14 (45.1) & 13 (41.9) & 15 (48.3) & 14 (45.1) \\ \hline College/university, n (\%) & 6 (19.3) & 6 (19.3) & 5 (16.1) & 5 (16.1) \\ \hline Body mass index (kg/m\({}^{2}\)) & 24.4 (21.8; 27.8) & 23.9 (22.4; 26.4) & 24.8 (21.6; 27.1) & 24.5 (22.3; 26.1) \\ \hline Fasting glucose (mg/dl) & 87.9 (82.1; 93.2) & 88.7 (82.3; 105.3) & 88.1 (80.6; 114.6) & 91.1 (85.1; 109.2) \\ \hline Smokers, n (\%) & 2 (6.4) & 3 (9.6) & 2 (6.4) & 2 (9.6) \\ \hline Never smokers, n (\%) & 27 (88.2) & 27 (85.2) & 28 (88.2) & 26 (85.2) \\ \hline Past smokers, n (\%) & 2 (6.4) & 1 (3.2) & 1 (3.2) & 3 (9.6) \\ \hline Current smokers, n (\%) & 2 (6.4) & 3 (6.4) & 2 (6.4) & 2 (6.4) \\ \hline _Comorbidities_ & & & & \\ \hline Diabetes, n (\%) & - & 3 (9.6) ** & 2 (6.4) ** & 2 (9.6) ** \\ \hline _Previous CVD_ & & & & \\ \hline Atrial fibrillation, n (\%) & - & - & 6 (19.3) ** & 5 (16.1) ** \\ \hline Angina pectoris, n (\%) & - & - & 12 (38.7) ** & 13 (41.9) ** \\ \hline Stroke, n (\%) & - & - & 5 (16.1) ** & 7 (22.6) ** \\ \hline Heart failure, n (\%) & - & - & 6 (19.3) ** & 5 (16.1) ** \\ \hline Antihypertensive, n (\%) & - & - & 10 (32.2) ** & 10 (32.2) ** \\ \hline Stating, n (\%) & - & - & 10 (32.2) ** & 9 (29) ** \\ \hline Low-dose aspirin, n (\%) & - & - & 7 (22.6) ** & 7 (22.6) ** \\ \hline Beta blockers, n (\%) & - & - & 6 (19.3) ** & 8 (25.8) ** \\ \hline hs-CRP (mg/L) & 2.5 (2.1; 2.9) & 3.1 (2.5; 3.9) * & 5.6 (4.8; 6.2) ** & 6.7 (58.7; 7.1) ** \\ \hline Total cholesterol (mg/dl) & 162 (139; 181) & 164 (133; 181) & 173 (139; 197) & 176 (178; 201) \\ \hline Triglycerids (mg/dl) & 121 (91; 145) & 102 (66; 128) & 141 (122; 166) & 139 (103; 158) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 1: Sample characteristics of enrolled patients. Data are represented as median (25 th; 75 th percentiles) or number with percentage. * \(p<0.001\) and ** \(p<0.001\) significant differences vs. healthy subjects computed by the Mann Whitney test. §S \(p<0.001\) significant differences vs. periodontitis patients calculated by the Mann Whitney test. # \(p<0.008\) significant differences vs. coronary heart disease (CHD) patients calculated by the Mann Whitney test. Figure 2 represents median (25 th; 75 th percentile) values of MPO levels in saliva and serum of all enrolled patients. Compared to control subjects, patients with CVD (\(p<0.01\)) and with periodontitis plus CVD (\(p<0.001\)) had higher median concentrations of MPO in saliva and serum. More specifically, in comparison with periodontitis subjects, patients with periodontitis plus CVD presented increased salivary and serum concentrations of MPO (\(p<0.01\)) (Figure 2).