Cardiologists' Awareness of the Relationship Between Periodontal Diseases and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Region-Wide Survey in Turkey

OBJECTIVES
The relationship between oral health and general health has gained more attention in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cardiologists in Turkey regarding the association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD).


METHODS
A modified survey was sent to 1,894 practicing cardiologists in Turkey after a pilot test. Two mailings were conducted, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
Out of the 1,894 cardiologists surveyed, 166 responded, yielding a response rate of 11.5%. The majority of respondents (77%) were male and held professional positions in academia (45%), as assistant doctors (17.5%), or in private practice (12.7%). 90% of respondents correctly identified periodontal disease as a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory disease, while 78% agreed that inflammation is a significant link between periodontal disease and CVD. Regarding whether treating periodontal disease could lower a patient's risk for CVD, 37% of polled cardiologists expressed uncertainty, and 9% disagreed. 76% of respondents believed that periodontists and cardiologists should collaborate to reduce shared risk factors for cardiovascular and periodontal diseases. Furthermore, 80% of the cardiologists polled expressed interest in learning more about the connection between periodontitis and CVD.


CONCLUSION
Although the vast majority of participants confirmed that microbially-associated, host-mediated inflammation is a hallmark of periodontitis, there was no similar agreement regarding inflammation as the primary factor linking periodontal diseases and CVDs. The majority of respondents expressed a desire to gain a better understanding of the relationship between these two diseases, with the intention of enhancing oral content in medical school and attending relevant seminars.