Use of Dental Related ICD Coding to Determine Comorbidities in Mississippi

Over the years, there has been a substantial effort to improve patient health and reduce healthcare costs through preventive medicine. Regular dental care prevents tooth decay; published research shows how oral health can impact other organs, such as the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Mississippi, with almost 8,000 people dying from it each year. Problems that affect oral health are also common in Mississippi. The purpose of this study was to test if a relationship exists between oral and heart health in Mississippi patients. De-identified patient data from 2012 through 2020 was gathered by using a data warehouse from an electronic health record at a Medical Center in Mississippi and was analyzed with SAS. The results from this study identified a strong association between oral and heart health, which suggests there may be opportunities for improvements in healthcare in Mississippi through improvements in dental health.