Oral health and cardiovascular disease in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to assess the relation between dental health and cardiovascular disease in an adult Swedish population.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 4811 randomly selected Swedes. It contained 52 questions about dental care habits, oral health, cardiovascular disease and their socio-economic situation. Odd ratios for all cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the subgroup myocardial infarction, stroke and high blood pressure were calculated with a logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, smoking, income, civil status and education. These ratios were calculated for subjects > or =41 years since few people suffer from CVD before this.


RESULTS
The national questionnaire was answered by 2839 (59%) people between 20-84 years of age and, of them, 1577 were 41 years of age or more. We found a significant association between self-reported bleeding gums (odds ratio 1.60, p=0.0017), presence of dentures (odds ratio 1.57, p=0.0076) and known CVD, which has also been reported in international studies. However, no association between loose teeth, deep pockets and known CVD was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that oral health and, especially gingival inflammation is associated with CVD.
Buhlin
K
K
Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Odontology, Department of Periodontology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Gustafsson
A
A
Håkansson
J
J
Klinge
B
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003778:Dentures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology