Asociación de factores de riesgo cardiovascular y presencia de imágenes sugestivas de ateroma carotideo en personas atendidas en la Universidad Santo Tomás, Bucaramanga 2020

Abstract

Introduction. Atherosclerosis refers to a hardening and obstruction of the arterial intima that causes a decrease in blood flow due to constriction of the arterial lumen and decreased laxity in these arteries. It is estimated that half of all strokes are the result of atherosclerotic disease in the carotid bifurcation. Studies have shown a 2 to 11% prevalence of calcified atheromas in the carotid artery in panoramic radiographs of dental patients, being the panoramic radiography a diagnostic tool of routine use by the dentist, it is useful as a screening tool for carotid atheromas. Objective. To establish the association between systemic risk factors and the presence of images suggestive of carotid atheroma. Methodology. An analytical observational study of cases and controls was developed. A sample of 150 digital panoramic radiographs was obtained, taking into account that they were: patients over 50 years of age, with signed informed consent, with panoramic radiographs where the vertebrae c3, c4 and c5 were observed; panoramic radiographs in which the vertebrae could not be observed were excluded. Variables such as the presence of images suggestive of atheroma, systemic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, hypertension, dyslipidemia), medications, periodontitis, edentulism and tobacco use, and sociodemographic variables such as age, sex and stratum were included. Results. In 96 radiographs it was possible to observe the vertebrae bilaterally, finding the presence of atheromas in 32 of them with 33.6%. When analyzing the presence of atheromas with risk factors, an OR of 5.55 was found for smoking habit with P=0.034. Conclusions Smoking or having smoked resulted in a 5-fold increased risk for the presence of images suggestive of atheroma identified in panoramic radiography.