Bad teeth predict hidden heart disease, study finds—especially in women
Swedish researchers discovered that missing teeth and tooth decay independently signal early-stage coronary artery disease in apparently healthy people. Adding dental screening to heart risk assessments nearly doubled the accuracy of detecting asymptomatic disease in women, suggesting dentists could become early-warning partners in cardiovascular prevention.
Originaltitel: Association between subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis and oral health—a study on a Swedish population
Abstract Introduction Oral health has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), but its relationship to subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis (SCAA) remains unclear. Using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), we explored this association in an asymptomatic population. Material and method A total of 410 non-smokers (193 women, mean age: 64.6 years), comprising 204 individuals with SCAA and 206 without (non-SCAA), were assessed through clinical and radiographic oral evaluations. Self-reported oral symptoms were scored by questionnaire. We used sex-stratified regression analysis and compared model performance with and without the addition of data on oral health through area under the curve (AUC). The reference model included age and history of smoking. Results Individuals with SCAA had more missing teeth, higher Decayed and Filled Teeth scores and greater prevalence of peri-apical lesions and marginal bone loss >33%. Missing teeth was an independent risk indicator for SCAA (OR 1.15 95%CI 1.04–1.27). Model performance improved with the addition of oral status and self-reported oral symptoms, most prominently in women (AUC 0.67 vs. 0.78, p = 0.010). Decision curve analyses confirmed a consistent net benefit when data on oral health were considered. Conclusions The findings suggest that subclinical coronary artery atherosclerosis is associated with oral health. Oral health-related data may improve screening for risk of coronary events, especially in women.