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Cardiovascular Risk Profiles of Individuals with Bruxism: A Case-Control Study Using QRISK3 Scores
Tolga Bayar1, Sezer Markirt2, Kadir Bıyıklı3
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Private Practice, Şırnak, TUR.
Insights
Adults with bruxism have a higher estimated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to controls. Bruxism severity is linked to this increased CVD risk, suggesting dental screening for cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oral Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Bruxism is associated with autonomic dysfunction and inflammation, potential contributors to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- Previous research has not quantified CVD risk in bruxism patients using validated models.
- This study addresses the gap by assessing CVD risk in adults with bruxism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the 10-year CVD risk between adults with bruxism and matched controls using the QRISK3 algorithm.
- To evaluate the association between bruxism severity and cardiovascular risk.
- To determine if bruxism is an independent predictor of high CVD risk.
Main Methods:
- A matched case-control study involving 92 adults with bruxism and 108 controls.
- Participants were matched for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes.
- Bruxism severity was assessed using the Bruxism Severity Questionnaire (BSQ); CVD risk was calculated using QRISK3.
Main Results:
- Adults with bruxism had a significantly higher mean QRISK3 score (8.2% vs. 6.1%) and prevalence of high CVD risk (28.3% vs. 14.8%) compared to controls.
- Bruxism severity, measured by BSQ, showed a moderate correlation with QRISK3 scores (r=0.36).
- Bruxism was identified as an independent predictor of high CVD risk (OR 2.30) after adjusting for multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Adults with bruxism demonstrate elevated estimated 10-year CVD risk compared to their non-bruxing counterparts.
- A correlation exists between the severity of bruxism and the calculated cardiovascular risk.
- Integrating cardiovascular risk assessment into dental care for bruxism patients is recommended.
Introduction:
Bruxism has been linked to autonomic dysregulation and systemic inflammation-mechanisms that may elevate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, no study to date has applied a validated risk-prediction model to quantify this risk in bruxism patients. This study aims to compare 10-year CVD risk, as estimated by the QRISK3 algorithm, between adults with bruxism and matched controls, and to assess the relationship between bruxism severity and cardiovascular risk.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional, matched case-control study recruiting 92 adults (25-65 years) with clinically diagnosed bruxism and 108 non-bruxing controls matched for age (±2 years), sex, body-mass index (BMI) (±1 kg/m²), smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes. Bruxism severity was measured via the eight-item Bruxism Severity Questionnaire (BSQ). Ten-year CVD risk was calculated using QRISK3 inputs from clinical history, physical examination, and recent laboratory values.
Results:
Cases and controls did not differ in mean age (42.5 ± 10.3 vs. 41.8 ± 9.7 years; p=0.63), sex distribution (55% female each), BMI (26.2 ± 3.4 vs. 25.8 ± 3.1 kg/m²; p=0.315), smoking (23.9% vs. 18.5%; p=0.756), hypertension (15.2% vs. 11.1%; p=0.698), or diabetes (8.7% vs. 5.5%; p=0.564). The mean QRISK3 score was higher in bruxers than controls (8.2 ± 4.5 % vs. 6.1 ± 3.7 %; t=4.156, p<0.001), and the prevalence of "high CVD risk" was 28.3 % vs. 14.8 % (χ²=6.102, p=0.013). The BSQ total score correlated moderately with QRISK3 (r=0.36, p<0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, bruxism remained an independent predictor of high CVD risk (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.15-4.58; p=0.019).
Conclusion:
Adults with bruxism exhibit significantly higher estimated 10-year CVD risk than matched controls, and bruxism severity correlates with QRISK3. These findings support the integration of cardiovascular risk screening in dental practice for patients presenting with bruxism.
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