Edentulism associates with poor cardiovascular health. Results from The Atahualpa Project

Edentulism – used as a proxy for chronic inflammatory periodontal disease – has been linked to an increased risk of adverse vascular outcomes [1]. While the importance of this relationship has been studied in industrialized nations, there is scarce information on its public health impact in underserved populations. Limited access to oral health care and lack of awareness on the repercussions of poor dental habits on systemic health contributes to the problem, and may be one of the factors responsible for the increasing burden of stroke and ischemic heart disease in rural areas of Latin America [2].

Source: International Journal of Cardiology - August 1, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Oscar H. Del Brutto, Robertino M. Mera, Victor J. Del Brutto, Mauricio Zambrano, Jipson E. Montenegro, Pablo R. Castillo Source Type: research