Gum disease is closely related to your blood pressure: study

London: warn researchers, people with gum disease (periodontitis) are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure or vice versa.

The study examined gum disease as a potential risk factor for hypertension, but the opposite could also be true.

"Further research is needed to examine whether patients with high blood pressure have an increased likelihood of gum disease." It seems prudent to provide oral health advice to people with hypertension. said Professor Francesco D'Aiuto of the UCL Eastman Dental Institute in the United Kingdom.

High blood pressure affects 30 to 45% of adults and is the leading cause of premature death worldwide, while periodontitis affects more than 50% of the world's population.

"We have observed a linear association: the more severe the periodontitis, the higher the probability of hypertension, the results suggest that patients with gingivitis should be informed of their risk and advised on the changes to be made to the treatment. lifestyle to prevent high blood pressure healthy diet, "said Aiuto in the article published in Cardiovascular Research, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.

Hypertension can be the driving force of heart attack and stroke in patients with periodontitis.

"Previous research suggested a link between periodontitis and hypertension and dental treatment that could improve blood pressure, but to date, the results are inconclusive," the researchers said.

This study has assembled the best evidence available to examine the probabilities of high blood pressure in patients with moderate or severe gingivitis.

A total of 81 studies from 26 countries were included in the meta-analysis.

Moderate to severe periodontitis was associated with an increased risk of hypertension of 22%, while severe periodontitis was associated with a 49% risk of hypertension.

Mean arterial pressure was higher in patients with periodontitis than in other patients. An average increase in blood pressure of 5 mmHg would be linked to a 25% increase in the risk of death from heart attack or stroke, the researchers noted.