Periodontal disease disproportionately affects African-Americans and has been implicated as a potential risk factor for CKD. To investigate this potential link, researchers led by Vanessa Grubbs, MD, from the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed 699 African-American adults who had complete dental examinations.

During an average follow-up of 4.8 years, there were 21 (3.0%) new CKD cases. Participants with severe periodontal disease had a 4.2-fold greater incidence of CKD after adjusting for various factors (age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and income), compared with those without severe periodontal disease.

"Because periodontal disease is common and can be prevented and treated, targeting it may be an important path towards reducing existing racial and ethnic disparities in chronic and end-stage kidney disease," Dr. Grubbs said in a statement.