Comparison of measured blood pressure levels, hypertension history, oral diseases, and associated factors among Thai dental patients.

PURPOSE

To compare blood pressure (BP), hypertension (HT) history, oral diseases, and potentially associated factors among dental patients in Thailand and explore the associations among them.

METHODS

This study included 709 patients. Demographic data, BP levels, oral diseases, xerostomia, anxiety, depression, and associated factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

One-third of the patients were male; patients with a history of HT were older than those without (P < 0.001). In total, 53 (7.5%) had such a history, and HT was controlled in 29 (54.7%) of them. Patients with possible HT (BP ≥140/90 mmHg; 94 in total, 13.3%) were five times more likely to have a definitive diagnosis of HT than those without possible HT (odd ratio [OR] = 4.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.76-8.87; P < 0.001). They also had an increased tendency to be taking antidyslipidemic (OR = 5.54; 95% CI: 2.90-10.60; P = 0.001) or antidiabetic (OR = 4.80; 95% CI: 1.91-12.08; P = 0.001) drugs. Male sex (ß = 0.156, P < 0.001), higher age (ß = 0.299, P < 0.001), higher body mass index (ß = 0.410, P < 0.001), and periapical tissue diseases (ß = 0.073, P = 0.019) were significantly associated with elevated systolic BP. Severe periodontitis (ß = 0.081, P = 0.023) and a comparable association pattern with systolic BP were related to diastolic BP. Multivariate analysis revealed no significant association between BP and tooth loss, xerostomia, smoking, education level, anxiety, or depression.

CONCLUSION

Dentists play an essential role in screening for undiagnosed and uncontrolled HT. Significant associations were noted between oral inflammatory diseases and high BP.