title: A systematic review of the effectiveness of oral health promotion activities among patients with cardiovascular disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to review the effectiveness of oral health promotion activities conducted among patients with cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three electronic databases were searched for effective papers using standardized search methods, and key findings of effective studies were summarized. The initial search yielded 3101 papers but only 8 studies met the criteria for this review: 3 were randomized controlled studies, 3 were pre-/post group interventions, 1 was a randomized split-mouth study, and 1 was a quasi-experimental study. Studies retrieved concerned oral health promotion activities in patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension, heart transplantation, and stroke. Interventions comprised periodontal treatment performed by dental personnel, and oral hygiene interventions provided by nursing home care assistants. Outcomes included improvements in periodontal health, and modifications of systemic inflammatory markers. No studies, however, evaluated the effects of oral health promotion interventions on oral microflora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are limited studies on the efficacy of oral health promotion activities in patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke patients. Oral health promotion activities appear to produce improvements in periodontal health, and also result in changes to systemic markers of inflammation and endothelial function (at least) in the short term. Whether these effects can ultimately lower the risk of secondary cardiovascular events has not yet been determined.
authors.affiliation: Oral Rehabilitation 4/F, 34 Hospital Road, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Otto L T
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lakshman P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samaranayake
authors.forename: Leonard S W
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Colman
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome