[Clinico-statistical study of medical complication in dental patients]

Eight hundred and fifty two cases, who were introduced from the Dental Hospital to Department of Internal medicine, Medical Hospital at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, were examined for medical complications. About one hundred and fifty cases were introduced per year from the Dental Hospital, which consisted of about 15% of the total outpatients in the Department of Internal medicine. The age distribution showed a high incidence of patients in their 50's. The number of patients over 60 years old was 220 (25.8%), and the number of patients over 65 years old was 160 (18.8%). There was then a high percentage of elder patients. The reason for the initial medical examinations was the need for a pre-operative medical examination in 42.6% of the total cases. Concerning medical complications among the patients, the highest incidence was hypertension in 116 cases (13.6%); the second highest was hepato-biliary and pancreatic diseases in 114 cases (13.4%); and heart diseases in 81 cases (9.5%). Eighteen cases of HBs antigen positive (2.1%) were seen among the patients with liver diseases. Among those with blood diseases, anemia showed the highest incidence, and a small number had leukemia and hemophilia. Diabetes mellitus showed up in 39 cases (4.6%), most of them being more than 40 years of age. Mentally and physically handicapped patients accounted for 30 cases. Half of them were from the pre-operative examination area, like tooth extraction.