Abstract
Background
Dental caries has been positively associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) [1]. ARF/RHD, a risk factor for infective endocarditis, warrants good dental hygiene, regular dental reviews, and prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental treatment to reduce risk [2]. This study assessed the nature and frequency of oral health-related admissions at a tertiary paediatric centre in patients with ARF/RHD.
Methods
A retrospective review of ARF/RHD patients was performed at Perth Children’s Hospital utilising hospital databases to assess hospitalised and non-hospitalised ARF/RHD patients receiving dental input. Demographic characteristics were collected, and the Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) was used to estimate socioeconomic advantage.
Results
Of the 511 patients with ARF/RHD, 75(14.6%) underwent dental consultation and of these 36(48%) required treatment under general anaesthetic. The mean age of these children was 9.5 years (ranging from 2–18 years of age) with an equal gender distribution and 62(83%) identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 54(10.5%) had RHD and 21(4.1%) had ARF without cardiac involvement. Children admitted for oral health-related hospitalisations, when compared to outpatients, were more likely to identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (p=0.016) and have a lower IRSAD score (p=0.005; figure 1). No significant difference in cardiac status was seen.
Conclusions
The oral health of children with ARF/RHD is not always considered but is a health concern that deserves priority. This study highlights that almost half of the children requiring dental treatment required rehabilitation under general anaesthesia. Moreover, these children were found to live in areas of greater social disadvantage.
Dental caries has been positively associated with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) [1]. ARF/RHD, a risk factor for infective endocarditis, warrants good dental hygiene, regular dental reviews, and prophylactic antibiotics prior to dental treatment to reduce risk [2]. This study assessed the nature and frequency of oral health-related admissions at a tertiary paediatric centre in patients with ARF/RHD.
Methods
A retrospective review of ARF/RHD patients was performed at Perth Children’s Hospital utilising hospital databases to assess hospitalised and non-hospitalised ARF/RHD patients receiving dental input. Demographic characteristics were collected, and the Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) was used to estimate socioeconomic advantage.
Results
Of the 511 patients with ARF/RHD, 75(14.6%) underwent dental consultation and of these 36(48%) required treatment under general anaesthetic. The mean age of these children was 9.5 years (ranging from 2–18 years of age) with an equal gender distribution and 62(83%) identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 54(10.5%) had RHD and 21(4.1%) had ARF without cardiac involvement. Children admitted for oral health-related hospitalisations, when compared to outpatients, were more likely to identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (p=0.016) and have a lower IRSAD score (p=0.005; figure 1). No significant difference in cardiac status was seen.
Conclusions
The oral health of children with ARF/RHD is not always considered but is a health concern that deserves priority. This study highlights that almost half of the children requiring dental treatment required rehabilitation under general anaesthesia. Moreover, these children were found to live in areas of greater social disadvantage.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S018-S109 |
| Journal | Heart, Lung and Circulation |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | Supplement 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |