The Association Between Tooth Loss and Coronary Heart Disease in Men and Women

  1. Hsin-Chia Hung DrPH,
  2. Kaumudi J. Joshipura ScD*,
  3. Graham Colditz MD,
  4. JoAnn E. Manson MD,
  5. Eric B. Rimm ScD,
  6. Frank E. Speizer MD,
  7. Walter C. Willett MD

Article first published online: 1 MAY 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2004.tb02755.x

Issue

Journal of Public Health Dentistry

Journal of Public Health Dentistry

Volume 64, Issue 4, pages 209–215, December 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hung, H.-C., Joshipura, K. J., Colditz, G., Manson, J. E., Rimm, E. B., Speizer, F. E. and Willett, W. C. (2004), The Association Between Tooth Loss and Coronary Heart Disease in Men and Women. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 64: 209–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2004.tb02755.x

Author Information

  1. Dr. Joshipura, Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: kjoshipura@hsdm.harvard.edu. Drs. Hung, Joshipura, Colditz, Manson, Rimm, Speizer, and Willett are with the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Hung is also affiliated with the Institute of Health Care Management, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Taiwan. Drs. Manson and Speizer are with the Charming Laboratory and the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

*Send correspondence and reprint request to Dr. Joshipura, Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: kjoshipura@hsdm.harvard.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 MAY 2007
  2. Article first published online: 1 MAY 2007
  3. Manuscript received: 12/24/03; returned to authors for revisions: 3/17/04; final version accepted for publication: 5/19/04.

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Keywords:

  • myocardial infarction;
  • coronary heart disease;
  • periodontal disease;
  • tooth loss;
  • inflammation;
  • infection;
  • cardiovascular disease;
  • diet;
  • nutrition

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This paper evaluates the relation of tooth loss to incidence of coronary heart disease in two large cohort studies. Methods: Participants included 41,407 men and 58,974 women free of any cardiovascular diseases at baseline. We recorded 1,654 incident coronary heart disease events (562 fatal events) among men during 12 years of follow-up and 544 events (158 fatal events) among women during 6 years of follow-up. Results: After controlling for important cardiovascular risk factors, compared to men with 25–32 teeth at baseline, men with 0–10 teeth had a significantly higher risk of coronary heart disease (relative risk [RR]/1.36; 95 percent confidence interval [CI]/1.11, 1.67). The relative risk increased to 1.79 (95% CI/1.34, 2.40) when limited to fatal events. Women with 0–10 teeth were also at increased risk of coronary heart disease compared to women with 25–32 teeth (RR/1.64; 95% CI/1.31, 2.05). The association was similar for fatal events (RR/1.65; 95% CI=1.11, 2.46). The association between number of teeth and incidence of coronary heart disease was similar between men with and without a history of periodontal disease, and there was no significant association between tooth loss during follow-up and coronary heart disease. Conclusions: This study showed a significant association between number of teeth at baseline and risk of coronary heart disease and the mechanisms to explain this association should be further clarified. [J Public Health Dent 2004;64(4):209–15]

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