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Dental health problems predictive of increased CHD risk
Among middle-aged adults, losing two or more teeth may be related to a higher risk for CHD, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions.
“Previous research has also found that dental health issues are associated with elevated risk of cardiovascular disease,” Lu Qi, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology at Tulane University in New Orleans, said in a press release. “However, most of that research looked at pre-existing tooth loss, which often includes teeth lost in childhood during activities, trauma, and orthodontics. Tooth loss in middle age is more likely related to inflammation and changes in dietary intake, but it hasn’t been clear how this later-in-life tooth loss might influence cardiovascular disease risk.”
Qi and colleagues conducted a study in two prospective cohorts to evaluate the link between recent tooth loss and subsequent risk for CHD. Study participants included both men and women, aged 45 to 69 years, all of whom were initially free of CHD and cancer. Researchers first asked the men how many natural teeth they had in 1986; the women were first asked that question in 1992. Utilizing questionnaires, researchers followed up with participants as to whether they had experienced any recent tooth loss.
Cumulative tooth loss was calculated during an 8-year period. Researchers looked for the incidence of CHD (fatal CHD or nonfatal MI) in conjunction with the number of teeth lost. Patients were stratified by the number of teeth lost: none, one or at least two. The researchers conducted another follow-up in 2012.
The researchers assessed CHD risk in individuals with 25 to 32 teeth at the initial examination (n = 41,939; 1,754 incident cases of CHD during 540,744 person-years of follow-up) and in all eligible participants (n = 60,967; 2,440 incident cases of CHD during 760,351 person-years of follow-up).
After Qi and colleagues adjusted for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, dietary habits, lifestyle and demographic factors, they found that greater loss of teeth (pooled HR for 2 or more teeth lost vs. none = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.3) and having fewer natural teeth (pooled HR for less than 17 vs. 25 to 32 = 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08-1.46) were linked to higher risk for CHD.
“The data suggest that dental health may be a new factor that we should pay more attention to regarding prevention of cardiovascular diseases,” Qi told Cardiology Today. – by Melissa Webb
Reference:
Heianza Y, et al. Abstract P219. Presented at: American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions; March 20-23, 2018; New Orleans.
Disclosures: Qi reports no relevant financial disclosures.
