Efficacy of localized sustained-release drugs in periodontitis and comorbid diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched until 4 December 2024, and 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The results indicated that compared to the control group, localized sustained-release drugs significantly reduced probing depth (PD) [SMD=-0.77, 95% CI (-1.37, -0.16)], but did not reduce clinical attachment loss (CAL) [SMD=-0.18, 95% CI (-0.60, 0.23)], sites with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) [SMD=0.03, 95% CI (-0.38, 0.43)], plaque index (PI) [SMD=-0.37, 95% CI (-0.80, 0.06)], sites with bleeding on probing (BOP) [SMD=-0.26, 95% CI (-0.68, 0.16)], and gingival index (GI) [SMD=0.07, 95% CI (-0.30, 0.44)].

Subgroup analysis by different drugs elicited that compared to the control treatment, chlorhexidine was effective in reducing BOP% [SMD=-0.55, 95%CI (-0.90, -0.19)]. Our meta-analysis finds that the efficacy of localized sustained-release drugs in periodontitis and comorbid diabetes is limited. Two reviewers reviewed the titles, abstracts, and the full text of studies meeting the inclusion criteria.