Tooth Loss and Cardiovascular Disease: A 17-Year Australian Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Oral health and cardiovascular disease research
• Public health and epidemiology
• Gerontology and women's health

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects 1 in 6 Australians, with tooth loss being a known risk factor.
• The link between tooth loss and CVD is influenced by social determinants, chewing function, and diet.
• Limited evidence exists on the specific role of diet in the tooth loss-CVD relationship.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of retaining a functional dentition (≥20 teeth) on incident CVD risk.
• To determine the extent to which diet quality mediates the association between tooth loss and CVD.
• To inform cardiovascular prevention strategies for individuals with significant tooth loss.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study of Australian women (1946-1951 birth cohort).
• Tooth loss and diet quality assessed in 2007; incident CVD tracked over 17 years.
• Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for multiple risk factors.

Main Results:

• 8,306 women included; 69.2% had a functional dentition.
• Incident CVD occurred in 17.2% of women over 17 years.
• Functional dentition associated with lower CVD risk (HR=0.83), independent of diet quality (HR=0.82).

Conclusions:

• Tooth loss negatively impacts diet quality but doesn't fully explain its link to CVD.
• Loss of functional dentition is an independent marker for increased CVD risk.
• Cardiovascular preventive actions are recommended for women experiencing significant tooth loss.