Subgroup analysis suggests that poor oral health may increase severity of COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular diseases<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Oct. 14, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Oral health may be an additional risk factor for severe COVID-19 in cardiac patients, according to a study presented at ACC Middle East 2021, a hybrid meeting held Oct. 14 to 15 in partnership by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), Egyptian Society of Cardiology, and the ACC Egypt Chapter.<\/p>\n
Ahmed Mustafa Basuoni, M.D., from Cairo University in Egypt, and colleagues surveyed 308 Egyptian patients with confirmed positive polymerase chain reaction tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to assess links between COVID-19 severity and oral health. A subgroup analysis was performed separately for an additional group of 86 patients with cardiovascular disease who met exclusion criteria for the study.<\/p>\n
The researchers found a significant inverse correlation (P < 0.001; r = \u00e2\u0088\u00920.512) between oral health and COVID-19 severity. Poor oral health also correlated with increased values of C-reactive protein (P < 0.001) and a delayed recovery period (P < 0.001), especially in patients with cardiac diseases.<\/p>\n
“Oral tissues could act as a reservoir for SARS-CoV-2, developing a high viral load in the oral cavity,” Basuoni said in a statement. “Therefore, we recommended maintenance of oral health and improving oral hygiene measures, especially during COVID-19 infection.”<\/p>\n
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