Sublingual varicosity as a possible indicator of hypertension

Oral varices are a common acquired vascular malformation that might be associated with several heart diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an association exists between the severity of sublingual varices and stage of hypertension. Oral examinations were conducted, and the sublingual varicosity of 151 patients was categorized as grade 0, 1, or 2 based on severity. The blood pressure of the patients was measured and classified as normal, prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension, or stage 2 hypertension according to the guidelines of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Pearson chi-square test, linear-by-linear association, and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Of 151 patients, 91 (60.3%) had sublingual varices, with 68 (45.0%) having grade 1 varicosity and 23 (15.2%) having grade 2. Sublingual varices were seen most frequently (84.4%) in patients older than 60 years. The frequency of hypertension (stage 1 or 2) among the sample was found to be 24.5%. The Pearson chi-square test showed a positive correlation between hypertension and sublingual varicosity (P < 0.0001; γ = 0.499). Logistic regression showed that the risk of hypertension in patients with grades 1 and 2 sublingual varicosity was 2.53 and 7.57 times greater, respectively, than that in patients with grade 0. In addition, sublingual varicosity (grade 1 or 2) was 2.32 times more frequent in men than in women (P = 0.022; 95% CI = 1.12-4.79) and 3.55 times more frequent in smokers than in nonsmokers (P = 0.003; 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Therefore, sublingual varicosity may be a sign of hypertension.