Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Opportunity to Identify Patients at Heightened Risk of a First Myocardial Infarction

American Heart Association (AHA) statistics reveal that atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries each year results in almost 700,000 Americans being hospitalized for their first myocardial infarction (MI) at an average age of 65 for men and 72 for women.1 An additional 165,000 persons suffer a silent MI, and by years end 450,000 have died from coronary heart disease (CHD). Primary prevention strategies rely almost exclusively on traditional risk factor recognition and management. However, more than 75% of persons enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, Physicians Health Study, and Women ’s Health Study, who later suffered an MI were classified as “low” or “intermediate risk” and consequently were less likely to receive optimal preventative therapy.
Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research