Key result
Higher CIMT linked to ~27% higher odds of tooth loss per SD without functional atherosclerosis.
Why the study?
Although a positive association between carotid intima-media thickness and tooth loss has been reported, no studies have evaluated this association in relation to functional arterial stiffness.
Is increased structural arterial stiffness (CIMT) associated with tooth loss in relation to functional atherosclerosis (CAVI) in older adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=1,235)
No
Is increased structural arterial stiffness (CIMT) associated with tooth loss in relation to functional atherosclerosis (CAVI) in older adults?
Odds Ratio: 1.27 (95% CI 1.04–1.55)
p-value: p=0.019 for interaction
Progression of structural arterial stiffness is positively associated with tooth loss only in the absence of functional atherosclerosis, highlighting potentially different physiological roles of structural versus functional atherosclerosis.
CIMT-tooth loss association appears limited to absent functional atherosclerosis; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective studies before any clinical consideration.
Structural arterial stiffness can be evaluated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Functional arterial stiffness can be evaluated with cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). A positive association between CIMT and tooth loss has been reported, but no studies have evaluated the association between CIMT and tooth loss in relation to functional arterial stiffness (functional atherosclerosis). A cross-sectional study of 1235 Japanese individuals aged 40–89 years was conducted. Tooth loss was defined as being in the lowest tertile for the number of remaining teeth (≤20 in men and ≤19 in women). Functional atherosclerosis was defined as CAVI ≥ 9.0. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT was positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. Adjusted odds ratios for tooth loss and a 1 standard deviation increment in CIMT were 1.27 (1.04–1.55) for participants without functional atherosclerosis and 0.99 (0.77–1.26) for participants with functional atherosclerosis. CIMT and functional atherosclerosis had a significant effect on tooth loss; the fully adjusted p-value for the interaction on tooth loss was 0.019. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT is positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. This finding helps clarify the influence of the progression of arterial stiffness on tooth loss because the progression of structural atherosclerosis might have a beneficial influence on the maintenance of the microcirculation.
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Shimizu et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in General population (n=1,235). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) increment was evaluated on Tooth loss (lowest tertile for the number of remaining teeth) (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04-1.55, p=0.019 for interaction). A 1 standard deviation increment in CIMT was associated with a 27% higher odds of tooth loss in participants without functional atherosclerosis, but not in those with functional atherosclerosis.
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