title: Screening for coronary heart disease and diabetes risk in a dental setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart disease, among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, are increasing among younger adults who are unaware of their risk status. Previous studies in the United States have shown the efficacy of screening for risk of heart disease and diabetes in a dental setting. A screening strategy was applied to facilitate early identification of individuals at increased disease risk in a single Indian dental institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  158 patients >30 years old, with no reported heart disease or diabetes, and unaware of any increased disease risk were enrolled. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein levels and body mass index were collected. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was calculated as an indication of global risk of developing a coronary heart disease (CHD) event within 10 years; hemoglobin A1c level was used to determine DM risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven percent had increased risk of heart disease (FRS >10%) and 32% had abnormal A1c levels (>5.7%). At least one risk factor was present in 61 and 39% presented with two or more risk factors. Hypertension and obesity were the most common risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a dental setting in a developing country could serve as a resource for early identification of patients at increased risk of developing CHD and DM, yet unaware of their increased risk. The dental setting can also serve as an entry point into the medical care system by identifying asymptomatic patients at increased risk of disease and referring these individuals to a primary care provider.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vydehi Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bangalore, India, dr.mythili@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mythili
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalladka
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Shreenivasa Murthy
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Padmashree
authors.forename: Nagathihally Thirumalegowda
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Venkateshaiah
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalsangi
authors.forename: Bangalore Nagarajachar
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Raghunandan
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003770:Dental Offices / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003906:Developing Countries; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin