Key result
Poor oral health is linked to new-onset AF and may promote recurrence and progression.
Why the study?
Poor oral health increases systemic inflammation, which has complex pathophysiologic links with atrial fibrillation, but the association between oral health and AF was not comprehensively reviewed.
Does poor oral health increase the risk of new-onset AF and AF recurrence?
Systematic Review
Does poor oral health increase the risk of new-onset AF and AF recurrence?
Poor oral health is associated with an increased risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation and its recurrence, suggesting that oral hygiene interventions could be integrated into AF primary prevention.
Poor oral health was associated with new-onset AF; supports integrating dental care into prevention but leaves causality and practice change open.
Background and objective: Poor oral health increases systemic inflammation, which has complex pathophysiologic links with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this comprehensive systematic review was to investigate the association between oral health and AF in terms of new-onset AF and AF recurrence. Methods: After PROSPERO protocol was registered, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were standardly searched from database inception to February 2021. The included studies were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The indicators of poorer oral health were the presence of periodontitis, lower frequency of dental scaling, lower frequency of toothbrushing, and lower number of missing teeth. Results: We initially identified 424 studies; however, only 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies comprised 3 nationwide population-based retrospective cohort studies, 1 large prospective cohort study, and 1 case-control study that reported the association between oral health and AF. These studies demonstrated that poor oral health was associated with new-onset AF, and may promote AF recurrence and progression. Moreover, AF patients with poorer oral health may have a higher risk of arrhythmias and major adverse cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up. Conclusion: Improved oral health potentially reduces new-onset AF. Periodontitis prevention, regular dental visits for professional dental scaling, and frequent tooth brushing, are oral health care interventions that contribute to AF protection. Therefore, promoting oral health should be integrated as a part of AF primary prevention.
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Leelapatana et al. (2022) conducted a systematic review in Atrial fibrillation. Poor oral health vs. Better oral health was evaluated on New-onset AF and AF recurrence. Poor oral health was associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation and may promote AF recurrence and progression.
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