Dental disease, coronary heart disease and stroke, and inflammatory markers - What are the associations, and what do they mean?

Lowe, G.D.O. (2004) Dental disease, coronary heart disease and stroke, and inflammatory markers - What are the associations, and what do they mean? Circulation, 109(9), pp. 1076-1078. (doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000118643.41559.E2)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.0000118643.41559.E2

Abstract

In addition to “classical” risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, “emerging” risk predictors (which may also play roles in pathogenesis) include measures of chronic infections and of chronic, low-grade activation of inflammation and of hemostasis.1,2 As all dental healthcare professionals know (but probably fewer medical practitioners and their patients), the oral cavity is a major site of chronic infection and inflammation, particularly periodontal disease. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the “periodontal-systemic connection” between dental health parameters and the risks of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.3 Given that poor oral health, coronary heart disease, and stroke are major worldwide health problems, their associations are potentially important. In particular, two practical questions are of mutual interest to dental and medical healthcare practitioners and their patients. First, should dental health scores be used (in addition to classical risk factors) to predict an individual’s risk of CHD and stroke? Second, does treatment of poor dental health reduce such risk?

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lowe, Professor Gordon
Authors: Lowe, G.D.O.
Subjects:R Medicine > RK Dentistry
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Circulation
ISSN:0009-7322
First Published:First published in (some?) Journal

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record