Inverse association between number of teeth and left ventricular mass in women

Recently, we have demonstrated a sex-specific inverse association between the number of teeth and hypertension. Left ventricular hypertrophy is a major cardiac sequel of hypertension. With the present study we sought to investigate whether there is also an inverse association between the number of teeth and left ventricular mass (LVM).

We used data from 1913 subjects (1036 women and 877 men) who were recruited for the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The number of teeth, with the exception of the third molars, was counted in the full mouth. LVM was determined echocardiographically. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for major confounders.

Women with fewer teeth had higher values for LVM than women with more teeth. This association was stable when controlled for major confounders. In the full model, edentulous women had an adjusted LVM of 178.4 g [95% confidence interval (CI) 170.4, 186.3 g] while women with 24-28 teeth had an adjusted LVM of 164.8 g (95% CI 156.8, 172.9 g; P < 0.01). In men, no such differences were observed.

We conclude that there is an association between the number of teeth and LVM in women aged 45 years or older. In women, these findings further explain why poor oral health predicts all-cause and circulatory mortality. Further research in young, low-risk populations is needed to explore this association in men.