Skip to main content

Periodontitis May Modify Risk for Atrial Fibrillation

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on April 11, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, April 11, 2024 -- Periodontitis is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study published online April 10 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Shunsuke Miyauchi, M.D., Ph.D., from Hiroshima University in Japan, and colleagues prospectively enrolled 288 patients with AF scheduled to undergo initial radiofrequency catheter ablation. The periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) was measured in all patients. Within the blanking period, all patients were recommended to receive periodontal treatment; 97 patients consented.

The researchers documented 70 AF recurrences (24 percent) during the mean follow-up period of 507 ± 256 days. Higher PISA was seen for patients who exhibited versus did not exhibit AF recurrences. According to the receiver operating characteristic analysis for AF recurrence, patients were categorized into high- and low-PISA (>615 and <615 mm2) groups (area under the curve, 0.611; sensitivity and specificity, 39 and 89 percent, respectively). Significant predictors of AF recurrence included high PISA, female sex, AF duration, and left atrial volume (hazard ratio, 2.308 for PISA >615 mm2). Among patients with high PISA, significantly fewer recurrences were seen for those who underwent periodontal treatment. For AF recurrence, the adjusted hazard ratio of periodontal treatment was 0.393.

"Periodontitis serves as a modifiable risk factor for AF," the authors write. "Hence, periodontal examination is beneficial for AF ablation candidates."

One author received funding from a Johnson & Johnson medical research grant.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Fish Oil Beneficial for Reducing Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Progression

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 -- The role of regular use of fish oil supplements varies for people with and without cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online May 21...

Excellent Outcomes Seen for Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Paroxysmal A-Fib

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 -- Clinical outcomes are excellent with use of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation (CA) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), according to a study...

Deep Learning Model Using Transthoracic Echocardiograms Can ID A-Fib

TUESDAY, May 14, 2024 -- A deep learning model using transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs) can predict patients with active or occult atrial fibrillation (AF), according to a study...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.