The Association Between Oral Health Status and Myocardial Infarction: A Structured Literature Review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Heart failure, often as a result of myocardial infarction (MI), has become a significant health issue for thousands of Canadians. Interventions to reduce the risk of MI would lessen the burden of heart disease and heart failure. Though unconventional, oral health is one of numerous risk factors for MI that has yet to be fully explored. OBJECTIVE: Through a structured literature review, the present study investigates the association between oral health status and MI among adults. METHODS: Three electronic databases were searched (Medline, Embase, CINAHL) for English-language papers published in peer-reviewed journals after January 1, 2007. The search included studies that assessed oral health status and reported on MI as the outcome measure in adults. This review considered the following study designs: systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies. RESULTS: The initial literature search generated 350 results. The application of inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded six cohort studies and one meta-analysis. Five of the studies reported a correlation between poor oral health and a higher risk of MI. Two studies failed to find a significant positive association between the two variables. CONCLUSION: An association between oral health status and MI was identified in this review. Therefore, preventative oral health interventions could reduce the population burden of MI and subsequent HF. However, this review recommends further investigation of the direction of the relationship.