High Prevalence and Risk Factors of Periodontitis among Blood Donors in a Sub-Saharan Population: Prévalence Élevée et Facteurs de Risque de la Parodontite chez les Donneurs de Sang d'une Population Subsaharienne

Abstract

Introduction. Oral health is an important but overlooked aspect of blood donor health in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of data on the association between certain risk factors and periodontitis among blood donors in Yaoundé motivated this study. Patients and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the two largest blood banks in the city of Yaoundé. All blood donors meeting the eligibility requirements were included. Hematological parameters (ABO and Rhesus blood groupings, HIV serologies, viral hepatitis B, viral hepatitis C and syphilis) and oral-dental parameters (Silness and Loe gingival index, loss of attachment, gingival redness and bleeding on probe passage) were assessed. Variables were compared using Fischer's exact test. The confidence interval was 95%, and the statistical significance level p was less than or equal to 0.05. Results. A total of 207 blood donors, mean age 27.8 ± 6.9 years, were included. Males predominated (72.5%). Gingivitis affected 37.2% of participants.  One-third of donors suffered from periodontitis (30.9%). Periodontitis was statistically associated with age, male gender and blood type O (p<0.05). Conclusion. The prevalence of periodontitis among blood donors in Yaoundé is high. The identified risk factors for periodontitis are age, male gender and blood group O. Screening for periodontal disease could be introduced into the selection of blood donors in Yaoundé.