Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding periodontitis as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases: A knowledge, attitude, and practice study.

Background: Medical students often exhibit limited awareness of periodontitis as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of medical students regarding periodontitis as a cardiovascular risk factor and their approaches to managing patients requiring dental care.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 501 medical students in Central Gujarat using a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising 23 questions. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, post hoc tests, Fisher's Exact Test, and Pearson's correlation, were applied.

Results: Postgraduate students demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores than undergraduates (P < 0.01), with no statistically significant differences in attitudes or practices. A weak or negligible correlation was observed between KAPs (knowledge-practice: r = -0.013; attitude-practice: r = -0.006).

Conclusion: Periodontitis is an important yet under-recognized cardiovascular risk factor. Its inclusion in medical curricula, alongside other established risk factors, is warranted. Improved interdisciplinary education may enhance the quality of care for cardiovascular patients with periodontal disease.