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Is the observed association between periodontitis and atherosclerosis causal?
Author(s) -
Kolltveit Kristin M.,
Eriksen Harald M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0722.2001.109001002.x
Subject(s) - periodontitis , causation , epidemiology , medicine , circumstantial evidence , causality (physics) , disease , pathology , dentistry , physics , quantum mechanics , political science , law
Most of the documentation of possible causal links between periodontitis and atherosclerosis‐related diseases appears indirect or circumstantial. There is, however, an increasing number of both experimental and longitudinal epidemiological studies which seem to support a causal relationship. A critical evaluation of the epidemiological data available might therefore be appropriate. The present study is based on a literature search using Ovid medical data base covering the period from 1989 to October 2000 and applying specific inclusion criteria. Based on a critical evaluation of the 14 investigations selected from a total of 21 retrieved from the search, a causal relationship between periodontitis and atherosclerosis‐related diseases appeared possible. However, the nature both of periodontitis and atherosclerosis is multifactorial, and caution should be exercised when implicating periodontal disease in the causation of atherosclerotic disorders.