THE ESSENTIAL
- Atrial fibrillation affects 1% of the general population, according to Health Insurance.
- 20 to 30% of strokes are secondary to atrial fibrillation.
Severe periodontitis is estimated to affect approximately 19% of the world’s adult population, or more than one billion people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This chronic inflammatory disease of the mouth gradually destroys the supporting apparatus of the teeth and, if left untreated, can lead to loosening and loss of teeth.
Inflammation of the gums promotes fibrosis
According to a new study, published in the journal JACC : Clinical Electrophysiology, periodontitis could also cause heart problems. “Periodontitis is associated with inflammation [présente depuis longtemps] and inflammation plays a key role in the progression of fibrosis and atrial fibrillationexplains Shunsuke Miyauchi, one of the authors, in a communiqué. We hypothesized that periodontitis promotes fibrosis.”
Fibrosis is defined by researchers as scarring of the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small cavity in the left atrium of the heart, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. This is defined by health insurance such as a heart rhythm disorder that causes palpitations. Among the risk factors for this pathology are age, obesity, diabetes, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, etc.
To test their hypothesis that periodontics promotes fibrosis and therefore atrial fibrillation, the scientists studied health data from 76 patients with heart disease. Specifically, the researchers analyzed tissue samples from the participants’ AGAs.
Periodontitis: a new risk factor for atrial fibrillation
Results: they found that the more severe the periodontitis, the more so was the fibrosis. Thus, they believe that inflammation of the gums can promote atrial fibrillation.
“This study provides evidence that periodontitis can worsen fibrosis and be a new risk factor for atrial fibrillation”, says Yukiko Nakano, one of the authors. Thus, she hopes that with this work, this disease can be taken into account among the risk factors.
“More evidence is needed to establish that periodontitis causally contributes to atrial fibrosis and that periodontal care can modify fibrosisnuance Yukiko Nakano. One of our goals is to confirm that periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation and [d’inclure les dentistes] in the comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation. Periodontitis is a modifiable risk factor (…) for atrial fibrillation.“