Dental health associated with survival of patients on dialysis
The Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis (ORAL-D) Study concludes that dental health is associated with the risk of mortality in renal patients.
Munich, 01 July 2015 – ORAL-D investigates whether oral disease assessed using standardized methods is associated with early death independent of existing cardiovascular disease and other sociodemographic factors. 4.205 patients participated in the first cross-sectional and prospective cohort study of dental health in end stage kidney disease.
Oral health represents a potential determinant of health outcomes in people with end-stage kidney disease, but this had not been formally established in scientific studies. Dental conditions such as caries, tooth loss, and poor oral hygiene are nearly universal worldwide, particularly affecting disadvantaged populations, and are associated with excess mortality, including cardiovascular and cancer-related deaths. Adults who have CKD face more severe oral disease than the general adult population, yet infrequently use dental services. Oral disease is associated with inflammation and malnutrition, which may accelerate cardiovascular disease in the setting of dialysis treatment, and therefore represents a putative cause of cardiovascular events in the context of kidney failure.
The Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis (ORAL-D) Study is the first prospective cohort study to investigate whether oral disease assessed using standardized methods is associated with early death independent of existing cardiovascular disease and other sociodemographic factors. A study focusing on dental health has just been published on the American Journal of Kidney Disease.
“I am proud that we were able to pull together so many experts in their fields to ultimately find wheter oral diseases and dental diseases in particular may be associated with adverse vascular outcomes in people on hemodialysis”. The ORAL-D study was a monumental effort and is a testament to hard work and commitment of all members of the study group, the ORAL-D investigators”, says Prof Giovanni FM Strippoli, SVP Scientific Affairs and chairman of d.ACADEMY, who designed and coordinated the Oral Diseases in Hemodialysis (ORAL-D) Study.
ORAL-D includes consecutive adults 18 years or older who had been treated with long-term hemodialysis within a convenience sample of kidney centers operated by Diaverum in Europe (France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain) and South America (Argentina), from July 2010 to February 2012.
Christina Waller Sterner
SVP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
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About Diaverum
At Diaverum, our mission is to improve the quality of life for renal patients by revitalising them both physically and emotionally. Being one of the world’s leading renal care providers, Diaverum offers a holistic approach, from preventive and early stage renal care to all renal replacement therapies. As a product independent provider — the largest in Europe — we are able to focus solely on caring for the individual needs of our patients. Our experience in renal care dates back 20 years, when the first dialysis clinic was established, previously under our former name Gambro Healthcare. Today, 8,500 employees care for 26,000 patients in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America, Middle East/Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Diaverum has its roots in Lund, Sweden and a corporate office located in Munich, Germany.
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