Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Periodontitis is a host-mediated inflammation associated with microbial dysbiosis which can result in loss or periodontal attachment. This is a common oral health complication in patients with kidney failure. Haemodialysis (HD) is the primary treatment modality for kidney failure. Given the increasing prevalence of kidney failure and periodontitis, understanding their associations and implications is crucial. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review explores the relationship between periodontitis and HD and examines the impact of periodontal health on clinical outcomes and oral health quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing HD. METHODS: The review followed The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Scoping Review Methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews((PRISMA-ScR). Medline, Embase, Scopus, and grey literature were searched for peer-reviewed English-language articles up to December 2023. Data were summarised using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-one articles were included, with most studies conducted in Europe and Asia. The prevalence of periodontitis in HD patients ranged from 36.27% to 99.06%. Findings highlighted associations between periodontitis and increased risks of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome, and other systemic illnesses. CONCLUSION: Periodontitis is highly prevalent in patients on HD and associated with adverse systemic and oral health outcomes. Limitation in current evidence are heterogeneity in case definitions and lack of longitudinal studies to provide causal inference. The review recommends standardised diagnostic criteria and longitudinal studies to guide integrated care approaches.