"Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease". The hypothesis of an infectious burden as trigger or initiator of the inflammatory process in atherosclerosis has been extensively discussed in the past years. One part of this discussion is focused on the infectious agents responsible for periodontitis. Several studies have found an association of periodontitis and/or bacteria related to this disease and atherosclerosis. However, a study focussing on the prognostic relevance of these factors is missing.