PERIODONTAL HEALTH IN PATIENTS ACUTELY ADMITTED FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Summary

Heart attack remains a major cause of death in adult population worldwide and especially within Scotland. A large portion of the general population has an increased risk of suffering from a heart attack because of their genetic make-up, disease profile and lifestyle choices. Literature suggests that apart from these known risk factors, long-standing inflammation (reaction of tissues to infection or injury) elsewhere in the body may be responsible for heart attacks. It has been suggested that gum disease may be one such condition. If left untreated, gum disease may expose the entire body to a long-term inflammatory burden where inflammatory molecules can disseminate from the gums into the bloodstream and affect various body structures. This study explores the influence of gum disease on the risk of heart attack by comparing the gum health of participants who recently had a heart attack to the gum health of participants with no history of heart problems after accounting for other risk factors. Findings will provide critical information for the design of our forthcoming study to establish the effect of treatment of gum disease on the risk of heart attack, and its cost-effectiveness. Ultimately this research will tackle another risk factor for heart attacks and thus inform enhancement of public health prevention strategies.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* cases: Patients aged 20-90 admitted with acute myocardial infarction
* controls: Dental patients, aged 20-90, matched to patients in the case study group for age, gender (±7) and risk factors for coronary artery disease (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia) but with no history of myocardial infarction)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe co-morbidities, Inability to consent, pregnant participants will be excluded, participants with other systemic inflammatory diseases, patients taking antimicrobials or antibiotics in last three years, patients taking medications, such as cyclosporine, calcium channel blockers, phenytoin, immunocompromised patients, patients with malignancies, patinets with type-2 or type-3 hypersensitivities

Conditions3

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