Oral health status, knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with heart disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients about their oral health status.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of 150 CVD patients that collected by a self-administered questionnaire consists of demographic characteristics and KAP. Oral health indicators calculated based on the results of oral examination by an expert dentist.


RESULTS
CVD patients had an overall moderate level of knowledge and attitude, but their practice was lower than moderate. There were important associations between knowledge scores with gender, education, residential area and financial status, between attitude scores with education and residential area, and between practice scores with education and financial status. There were no associations between KAP and age, marital status or job. Significant positive correlations were found between KAP components. Significant negative correlations were found between oral hygiene index with knowledge and practice.


CONCLUSIONS
The practice of heart disease patients about their oral health was poor, and declares that increasing awareness and attitude may not promote practice. Efficient programs are needed to promote oral health practice of adult populations in special groups.
Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Alireza
AA
Rasouli-Ghahroudi
Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Afshin
A
Khorsand
Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Siamak
S
Yaghobee
Professor, Dental Implant Research Center AND Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amirreza
A
Rokn
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Jalali
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
Sima
S
Masudi
Resident, Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Hamed
H
Rahimi
Assistant Professor, Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences AND Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali
A
Kabir
Attitudes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Health Knowledge; Oral Health; Practice