The Association Between Sublingual Varices and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

• Objective: To study the association between sublingual varices (SV) and cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors. Methods: A total of 989 consecutive dental patients aged 55-84 years participated in the study, which applied a survey about risk factors, diseases and medications. Digital photos of the lateral borders of the tongue, height, weight, waist, hip and blood pressure were registered, and blood samples were analyzed. Those with SV were compared with those without SV (nSV). Results: Those with SV had more hypertension 41.8% vs 27.0% (p<0.0001), a higher systolic blood pressure (BP) 139.5 (SD 18.6) mmHg vs 134.3 (SD 18.8) mmHg (95% CI -7.73 - -2.72), more diabetes type 2 (DM-2) 7.4% vs 3.8% (p=0.014), a higher fasting plasma glucose 5.9 (SD 1.5) mmol/L vs 5.7 (SD 1.0) mmol/L (95% CI -0.42 - -0.05), more dyslipidemia 24.1% vs 17.7% (p=0.018), lower HDL 1.6 vs 1.7 (p=0.003), a greater waist circumference 97.0 cm vs 93.9 cm (95% CI -4.66 - -1.46), a greater waist/hip ratio 0.92 cm/cm vs 0.90 cm/cm (95% CI -0.03 - -0.01), and a higher BMI 26.6 kg/m(2) vs 26.0 kg/m(2) (95% CI -1.11 - -0.03). The following associations with SV were found in multivariate analysis: hypertension OR=1.6 (95% CI 1.19 -2.13), a high systolic BP OR =1.5 (95% CI 1.11 -2.13), a high tP-glucose OR= 1.8 (95% CI 1.03 -3.21), a low HDL OR= 1.8 (95% CI 1.15 -2.92), a greater waist circumference OR= 1.68 (95% CI 1.10 -2.58), a greater waist/hip ratio OR=2.21 (95% CI 1.36 -3.58), and a higher HMI OR=1.05 (95% CI 1.02 -1.09). Conclusion: This study shows an association between SV and a high BP, a high fP-glucose, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity, older age and smoking.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

sublingual varices

cardiovascular riskfactors

diseases

smoking

Cardiovascular System & Cardiology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)