Poor oral health, severe COVID
POOR oral health may increase the severity of COVID- 19 i nfection, especially f or cardiac patients, the American College of Cardiology ( ACC) announced October 7.
“The correlation between poor oral health and COVID- 19 severity, as well as the correlation between oral health and delayed recovery, demonstrates a potential need to consider oral health an additional risk factor for cardiac patients who may contract COVID- 19,” said the 54,000- strong medical society.
It cited a new sub- study i n Egypt t hat examined cardiac patients.
The study hypothesized that s evere COVID- 19 i ncreases because of poor oral health, especially among patients with cardiovascular diseases.
The hypothesis i s based on oral health status, severity of COVID- 19 symptoms, duration of recovery, and C- reactive protein ( CRP) levels.
The liver produces CRP. When the body is threatened by bacteria or cellular i nvaders, the l iver releases CRP into the bloodstream to defend the body. A CRP thus measures the amount of CRP in the blood, indicating the presence and severity of inflammation in the body.
An oral health score determined t he effect of oral health on COVID- 19 i nfection. Data on CRP l evels and COVID- 19 PCR ( polymerase chain reaction) tests were collected and confirmed via medical records. CRP levels were used to determine when there is inflammation in the body.
According to the study, the correlation between oral health and the severity of COVID- 19 infection showed that poor oral health means poor COVID- 19 outcome. Poor oral health was also correlated to increased values of CRP and delayed recovery, especially in patients with cardiac diseases.
“Oral t i ssues could act as a reservoir f or SARS- CoV- 2 , developing a high viral load in the oral cavity,” said Dr. Ahmed
Mustafa Basuoni, a cardiology consultant at Cairo University and l ead author of the study. “We recommend maintenance of oral health and improving oral hygiene measures, especially during COVID- 19 infection.”
Simple measures like practicing proper oral hygiene, awareness of oral health importance, regular dental visits, especially in patients with cardiovascular disease, and using antimicrobial mouthwashes, could help prevent or decrease the severity of COVID- 19 disease, he said.
“Oral health should be a part of routine history taking and examination in cardiac patients,” Dr. Basuoni s aid. “Li f estyl e measures should be instructed to all cardiac patients regarding good oral hygiene with regular dental visits. We need to give more space in research for these risk factors which can be easily modified.”
The ACC envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes.
As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team in the United States, the ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines.
T h e ACC a l s o p r o v i d e s professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research t hrough i t s worldrenowned Journal of the American College of Cardiology, operates national registries to measure and i mprove care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions.
*** Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental I mplanto l ogy. For questions on dental health, e- mail jdlim2008@ gmail. com or text 0917- 8591515.
Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc- OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science ( MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He was Assistant Professor at the National University, 2018; and Associate Professor, University of Makati, 2018. For questions on dental health, e- mail limdentalcenter@ gmail. com./