Relation between Oral Health Status and Electrocardiogram ST Segment Changes in a Group of Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Background and aims. Only half to two-thirds of cardiovascular diseases can be explained by the classic risk factors. It is believed that chronic oral inflammation is a potent risk factor for systemic diseases. Studies show that electrocardiogram ST segment changes can be predictive of myocardial infarction outcome. In this study the relation between electrocardio-gram ST segment changes and oral health is evaluated. Materials and methods. In this cross-sectional study, thirty-six patients (14 females and 22 males) with myocardial infarction were enrolled. Oral health indices including DMFT index, probing depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing were recorded for each patient. DMFT index, PD, CAL as continuous variables and BOP as a categorical variable were compared with ST segment changes by independent t-test and chi-squared test, respectively (α=0.05). Results. DMFT index, BOP and PD revealed no statistically significant relation with ST segment groups. CAL showed a statistically significant difference within ST segment groups (P=0.003, OR=1.68). Conclusion. Clinical attachment loss was significantly higher in patients with ST segment depression, while no correla-tion was seen between probing depth, bleeding on probing and DMFT index with ST segment elevation or depression.