Coronary heart disease (CHD) accounts for approximately one-third of all deaths worldwide. A new longitudinal study explores the association between commonly occurring oral bacteria and CHD, furthering our understanding of how infection influences the development of heart disease.
CHD is the most common form of heart disease. Over time, plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that supply the heart (atherosclerosis), causing obstruction of blood flow. The blockage causes symptoms such as chest pain (angina), difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, and pain in the arms and shoulders. If plaque completely blocks an artery, it can cause a heart attack.
CHD is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and demographic factors. The main risk factors are smoking, diabetes, high blood fat (hyperlipidemia), and high blood pressure (hypertension). Age is also an important risk factor, with men more likely than women to develop her CHD.
Previous studies have also identified a link between the development of arterial plaque and the body’s inflammatory response. These studies have sparked renewed interest in the role bacteria, viruses, and other microbes play in heart disease.
“Although great progress has been made in understanding how coronary heart disease develops, our understanding of how infection, inflammation, and genetic risk factors contribute is still incomplete.” said Flavia Hodel, lead author of the current study.
The study followed 3,459 participants and monitored heart health for 12 years. Data were collected on participants’ blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a measure of inflammation. Participants were also tested for 22 human pathogens, including 15 viruses, 6 bacteria and 1 parasite.
One of the bacteria tested was Fusobacterium nucleatum, a bacterium that is prevalent in humans. It is a very common oral bacterium that causes inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and infection of the gums (periodontitis). Previous research has also indicated that it can spread to the intestines and female reproductive tract, causing inflammation and disease.
Based on the data collected, the present study demonstrated an association with previous or current infection. F. nucleatum Slightly increased risk of CHD. Researchers hypothesize that this bacterium harms her in two ways. First, oral infection causes an inflammatory response throughout the body. Second, it migrates from the mouth and attaches directly to the walls of the coronary arteries, promoting plaque growth.
“Our study adds to growing evidence that inflammation caused by infection may contribute to the development of coronary heart disease and increase the risk of heart attack,” said Life of EPFL in Switzerland. Science professor and senior author Jacques Fellay said. About research.
Future studies are needed to confirm this association, but if confirmed, it may open the door to simple antibiotic therapy as a treatment option when infection is the cause of CHD. .
“Our results may lead to new ways of identifying at-risk individuals or lay the foundation for research into preventive interventions to treat them. F. nucleatum It’s an infection to protect the heart,” Ferrey said.
This research was published in eLife.
Source: Elife
