Some oral bacteria linked with hypertension in older women

Date:
March 2, 2022
Source:
American Heart Association
Summary:
In a study of more than 1,200 women in the U.S., average age 63
years, 10 kinds of oral bacteria were associated with a higher risk
of developing high blood pressure, while five strains of bacteria
were linked with lower hypertension risk. The observational study
cannot prove cause and effect; however, the findings highlight
possible opportunities to enhance hypertension prevention through
targeted oral care, researchers said.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Some oral bacteria were associated with the development of hypertension,
also known as high blood pressure, in postmenopausal women, according
to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American
Heart Association.


==========================================================================
High blood pressure is typically defined by two measurements: systolic
blood pressure (the upper number measuring pressure when the heart beats)
of 130 mm Hg or higher, and diastolic blood pressure (the lower number indicating pressure between heart beats) of 80 mm Hg or higher.

While previous research has indicated that blood pressure tends to
be higher in people with existing periodontal disease compared to
those without it, researchers believe that this study is the first
to prospectively examine the association between oral bacteria and
developing hypertension.

"Since periodontal disease and hypertension are especially prevalent
in older adults, if a relationship between the oral bacteria and
hypertension risk could be established, there may be an opportunity to
enhance hypertension prevention through increased, targeted oral care,"
said Michael J. LaMonte, Ph.D., M.P.H., one of the study's senior authors,
a research professor in epidemiology at the University at Buffalo --
State University of New York and a co-investigator in the Women's
Health Initiative clinical center in the University's epidemiology and environmental health department.

Researchers evaluated data for 1,215 postmenopausal women (average age of
63 years old at study enrollment, between 1997 and 2001) in the Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease Study in Buffalo, New York. At
study enrollment, researchers recorded blood pressure and collected oral
plaque from below the gum line, "which is where some bacteria keep the
gum and tooth structures healthy, and others cause gum and periodontal disease," LaMonte said. They also noted medication use and medical and lifestyle histories to assess if there is a link between oral bacteria
and hypertension in older women.

At study enrollment, about 35% (429) of the study participants had normal
blood pressure: readings below 120/80 mm Hg, with no use of blood pressure medication. Nearly 24% (306) of participants had elevated blood pressure: readings above 120/80 mm Hg with no medication use. About 40% (480) of participants were categorized as having prevalent treated hypertension: diagnosed and treated for hypertension with medication.



========================================================================== Researchers identified 245 unique strains of bacteria in the plaque
samples.

Nearly one-third of the women who did not have hypertension or were
not being treated for hypertension at the beginning of the study were
diagnosed with high blood pressure during the follow-up period, which
was an average of 10 years.

The analysis found:
* 10 bacteria were associated with a 10% to 16% higher risk of
developing
high blood pressure; and
* five other kinds of bacteria were associated with a 9% to 18% lower
hypertension risk.

These results were consistent even after considering demographic, clinical
and lifestyle factors (such as older age, treatment for high cholesterol, dietary intake and smoking) that also influence the development of high
blood pressure.

The potential associations for the same 15 bacteria with hypertension
risk among subgroups was analyzed, comparing women younger than age 65
to those older than 65; smokers versus nonsmokers; those with normal
versus elevated blood pressure at the start of the study, and other comparisons. Results remained consistent among the groups compared.

The findings are particularly relevant for postmenopausal women, since
the prevalence of high blood pressure is higher among older women than
older men, according to LaMonte.



==========================================================================
More than 70% of American adults ages 65 and older have high blood
pressure.

That age category, the fastest growing in the U.S., is projected to reach
95 million by 2060, with women outnumbering men 2 to 1, according to a
2020 U.S.

Census report. The 2020 U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action to Control Hypertension underscores the serious public health issue imposed by hypertension in adults, especially those in later life. Identifying
new approaches to prevent this disease is, thus, paramount in an aging
society.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of U.S. adults
have high blood pressure, and many don't know they have it. High blood
pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke.

"We have come to better appreciate that health is influenced by more
than just the traditional risk factors we know to be so important. This
paper is a provocative reminder of the need to expand our understanding of additional health factors that may even be influenced by our environments
and potentially impact our biology at the endothelial level," said
Willie Lawrence, M.D., chair of the American Heart Association's National Hypertension Control Initiative's (NHCI) Oversight Committee. "Inclusive research on hypertension must continue to be a priority to better
understand and address the condition." Due to the study's observational approach, cause and effect cannot be inferred, limiting the researchers' ability to identify with certainty that only some bacteria are related
to lower risk of hypertension while others are related to higher risk. A randomized trial would provide the evidence necessary to confirm which
bacteria were causal agents in developing -- or not developing - -
hypertension over time, according to LaMonte.

Co-authors are Joshua H. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D.; Patricia Diaz-Moreno,
D.D.S., Ph.D.; Christopher A. Andrews, Ph.D.; Daichi Shimbo, M.D.;
Kathleen M. Hovey, M.S.; Michael J. Buck, Ph.D.; and Jean Wactawski-Wende, Ph.D.

The study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which are divisions of
the National Institutes of Health (NIH); the U.S. Army Reserve Medical
Corps; the Women's Health Initiative program (Coordinating Center,
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center); and the University at Buffalo
Clinical Translational Science Institute.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Heart_Association. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Michael J. LaMonte, Joshua H. Gordon, Patricia Diaz‐Moreno,
Christopher A. Andrews, Daichi Shimbo, Kathleen M. Hovey, Michael J.

Buck, J. Wactawski‐Wende. Oral Microbiome Is Associated With
Incident Hypertension Among Postmenopausal Women. Journal of the
American Heart Association, 2022; DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.121.021930 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220302092705.htm

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