Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of the oral-systemic relationship has accounted for potentially preventable chronic conditions and morbidity worldwide. Health literacy is a large contributing factor. This systematic review investigates the knowledge and awareness of patients with major systemic conditions, regarding the oral associations to their condition.MethodsElectronic databases including Medline (Ovid), CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Informit Health Databases and Scopus were searched. All articles from 2011 to 2020, investigating knowledge of the oral-systemic link, of adult patients with the following major system conditions were searched: diabetes mellitus (DM), respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), pregnancy and bone disease. Two independent reviewers completed screening, data extraction and quality assessment. A synthesis without meta-analysis was conducted. Twenty-four studies, from 14 different countries, were included in the systematic review.ResultsAnalysis showed that globally, patients with major systemic conditions have poor knowledge and awareness (< 50%) of the oral health associations to their condition. Improvements in health education are particularly necessary for patients with heart disease, bone disease and diabetes. Dentists and the media were the most common source of information. There were no relevant studies investigating the knowledge of patients with respiratory disease.ConclusionTo improve the global burden of preventable chronic conditions, it is essential to address inequalities in the dissemination of health education to at-risk populations. Improvements in patient education rely on an increase in patient-practitioner communication on the oral-systemic link, implementation of oral health educational programs and greater interdisciplinary collaboration.
Highlights
The prevalence of the oral-systemic relationship has accounted for potentially preventable chronic conditions and morbidity worldwide
The objective of this review is to identify inequalities in the dissemination of information regarding the oralsystemic link, by investigating the awareness of patients with major systemic conditions, regarding the link between oral disease and their condition
The study findings reported low knowledge of the oral health associations to osteoporosis and osteopenia [48]
Summary
The prevalence of the oral-systemic relationship has accounted for potentially preventable chronic conditions and morbidity worldwide. It is estimated that more than 100 systemic diseases and around 500 medications are associated with oral manifestations, especially in the elderly population [2]. The severity of this association can be enhanced by common risk factors such as smoking, alcohol and obesity [1]. A lack of knowledge and awareness, regarding the interactions between oral health and major systemic conditions, has contributed to potentially preventable hospitalisations (PPH), an increased risk of morbidity and a negative quality of life [1]. The spread of oral bacteria through the bloodstream, can contribute to systemic inflammation [2, 4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
