Relationship between oral health and mortality in cardiovascular diseases

Background, aims: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relations hip between periodontal health and fatal cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: The investigation was conducted on a sample of 1393 individuals in the County of Stockholm. The subjects were examined in an epidemiological study in 1970 with respect to dental health. At a follow-up in 1997, the mo rtality rate of the sample during the years 1970-1996 was registered as wel l as cause of death according to the death certificate. Stepwise logistic r egression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the influence of the investigated variables on the incidence of death from CVD. Results: The interactional effect between plaque and oral health score (a s um of scores for number of missing teeth, apical lesions, caries lesions an d marginal bone loss), adjusted for age, gender, smoking and CVD at baselin e, was significantly correlated to fatal coronary events. For individuals y ounger than 45 years of age, the age-adjusted incidence odds ratio of death due to CVD was 2.7 (p=0.04) if subjects with mean marginal bone loss of > 10% were compared with subjects with mean marginal bone loss less than or e qual to 10%. If the stratum of individuals < 45 years of age is cofined to smokers, the odds ratio was found to be 3.4 (p=0.03). Conclusion: Dental health was found to be a risk indicator of death due to CVD, especially in combination with another risk factor, smoking habits.