Treating gum disease after a procedure to correct an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate may lower the risk of the cardiac condition reoccurring. A study conducted at Hiroshima University in Japan suggests that gum disease may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.
Treating gum disease after a procedure to correct an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate may lower the risk of the cardiac condition reoccurring.
The disorder, known as atrial fibrillation, involves an irregular heartbeat and can increase the risk of stroke and even heart failure. In advanced cases, it can be treated via catheter ablation, a procedure that very carefully destroys a damaged area ofat Hiroshima University in Japan and his colleagues have shown that gum disease may be a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.The team enrolled 288 people who all had gum disease and underwent ablation to treat atrial fibrillation.
In a follow-up period lasting up to two years, 24 per cent of the participants experienced atrial fibrillation again, but this was 61 per cent less likely to occur among those whose gum disease was treated after ablation.The risk of developing atrial fibrillation again was higher if the person’s gum disease was more severe.
If gum tissue is inflamed or even ulcerated, bacteria and inflammatory immune proteins can enter the bloodstream, which may affect the heart, says Miyauchi. The researchers also measured levels of inflammatory proteins in the participants’ blood before they underwent ablation, finding that these were elevated in those with severe gum disease. Higher levels of antibodies for gum disease-related bacteria were also linked to greater atrial fibrillation reoccurrence, says Miyauchi.The team encourages people with atrial fibrillation to seek treatment for gum disease if necessary.
Gum Disease Atrial Fibrillation Heart Rate Stroke Heart Failure Catheter Ablation Risk Factor
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