High blood pressure in older women linked to certain oral bacteria

• A study of more than 1,200 U.

  
  

• Observational studies cannot prove cause and effect; however, the findings underscore the possibility of enhancing hypertension prevention through targeted oral care, the researchers said

  
  

Some oral bacteria are linked to the development of high blood pressure, also known as high blood pressure in postmenopausal women, according to a new study published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association

High blood pressure is usually defined by two measurements: systolic blood pressure (the upper value of the pressure measured when the heart beats) of 130 mm Hg or higher, and diastolic blood pressure (the lower value of the pressure between the heart beats) of 80 mm Hg or more high

While previous research has shown that people with periodontal disease tend to have higher blood pressure than those without it, the researchers believe this study is the first to prospectively examine the relationship between oral bacteria and high blood pressure

"Since periodontal disease and hypertension are particularly prevalent in older adults, if the relationship between oral bacteria and hypertension risk can be identified, there is an opportunity to enhance hypertension prevention through increased targeted oral care

In the Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease Study in Buffalo, New York, researchers evaluated data from 1,215 postmenopausal women (mean age 63 at study enrollment from 1997 to 2001)

At study enrollment, about 35 percent (429) of study participants had normal blood pressure: less than 120/80 mmHg in the absence of blood pressure medication

The researchers identified 245 unique bacteria in the plaque samples

The analysis found:

• 10 bacteria that increase the risk of high blood pressure by 10% to 16%; and

• Five other bacteria were associated with a 9% to 18% lower risk of high blood pressure

  
  

These results were consistent even after accounting for demographic, clinical, and life>

The researchers analyzed the potential associations of these 15 bacteria with high blood pressure risk and compared women younger than 65 with women over 65; smokers and non-smokers; normotensives and those with elevated blood pressure at the start of the study.

The finding is especially important for postmenopausal women because older women have higher rates of hypertension than older men, Lamont said

More than 70 percent of U.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, and many do not know they have it

"We've come to realize that it's not just the traditional risk factors that we know are very important that affect health
.
This paper reminds us of the need to expand our understanding of other health factors that may even be influenced by our environment and may It affects our biology at the endothelial level,
" said Willie Lawrence, MD, chair of the American Heart Association's National Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI) Oversight Committee
.
Inclusive research into hypertension must continue to be a priority in order to better understand and address hypertension
.
"

Because the study used an observational approach, causality could not be inferred, limiting the researchers' ability to determine that only some bacteria were associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure, while others were associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure
.
A randomized trial will provide the necessary evidence to confirm which bacteria are responsible for the development or absence of high blood pressure over time, LaMonte said
.