Common Oral Infections in Children May Increase the Risk of Atherosclerosis in Adulthood – ScienceDaily



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The badociation between oral infections in children and carotid atherosclerosis in adulthood was observed in the study of cardiovascular risk in young Finns, an ongoing prospective cohort.

"This observation is new in that no follow-up study on infant oral infections and risk of cardiovascular disease has been performed before," says Pirkko Pussinen, of the University of Toronto. 39, Helsinki.

More progressive infections and oral inflammation – endodontic lesions and periodontitis – are known to be badociated with several cardiovascular risk factors and the risk of disease in adults. In adults in particular, periodontitis has been the subject of numerous studies and is currently considered to be an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease. The treatment of periodontitis is also known to decrease cardiovascular risk factors.

The badociation between oral mouth infections and atherosclerosis was highlighted in a study conducted at the University of Helsinki, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, in collaboration with the national research group on the study of cardiovascular risk among young Finns. The study was published in JAMA Network open now.

The study was launched in 1980, when clinical oral examinations were conducted in 755 children aged 6, 9 and 12 years. The follow-up ended in 2007, when the intima-media thickness of the carotid artery was measured during an ultrasound of participants aged 33, 36 and 39 years.

The decline was 27 years and cardiovascular risk factors were measured at several times. Cumulative exposure to the risk factor was calculated for both children and adults. Signs of infections and oral inflammation collected in the study included cavities, fillings, bleeding on probing, and the depth of the probing pouch.

THE MORE SIGNS OF ORAL INFECTIONS, THE HIGHER RISK OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Of all children, 68%, 87% and 82% had bleeding, cavities and fillings, respectively. There were no differences between boys and girls. A slight periodontal perforation was observed in 54% of the children and was more frequent in the boys than in the girls. Only 5% of examined mouths were in perfect health, while 61% and 34% of children had one to three signs and four signs of oral infections, respectively.

"The number of signs significantly badociated with the cumulative exposure to cardiovascular risk factors in adulthood, but especially during childhood," said Professor Markus Juonala of the US. University of Turku.

Caries and periodontal disease in children were significantly badociated with intima-media thickness of the carotid artery at adulthood. Thickening of the carotid artery wall indicates progression of atherosclerosis and increased risk of myocardial infarction or brain.

The researchers conclude: "Oral infections are an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis and their badociation with cardiovascular risk factors persisted throughout the follow-up." The prevention and treatment of oral infections are important from childhood ".

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