Periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk

PI Bertelsen is workpackage-leader in a researcher project which started in June 2021: «Oral health in adults: predictors, social gradients and correlation with cardiovascular health in women and men». The project is based at the reserach unit at Oral Health Center of Expertise (TK Vestland) where Randi Bertelsen has a researcher affiliation.

The project has received funding from the Research Council of Norway from the funding scheme “Collaborative project to meet challenges in society and business” and partners in the project include Vestland County Municipality, The National Association for Public Health, the Association of Teeth and Health, and the University of Bergen.

The main purpose of the project is to look at the connection between oral health, cardiovascular health, socio-economic status and lifestyle factors. Research data are collected from participants in the population surveys in Hordaland (HUSK 1-3). The add-on survey, HUSK dental health, which started in 2020, provide information on oral health and include bacterial sampling from the oral cavity (gingiva and saliva). The work package that Bertelsen will lead will study the association between bacteria in the oral cavity and cardiovascular health.

More about the study can be found here (in Norwegian only)