Organization of Dental Care for Adults with Cardiac Arrhythmia against the Background of Anticoagulant Therapy

The high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among the adult population leads to the risk of disability and mortality of people of working age. At the same time, this group of patients also needs comprehensive dental management and consideration of pharmacotherapeutic features. The growing cost of dental services leads to a decrease in the availability of dental care, especially taking into account the age criteria of patients with heart rhythm disorders. According to opinion polls, less than 5% go to the dentist for preventive purposes. However, patients taking anticoagulant therapy are at high risk of developing complications during dental interventions, which means they require increased preventive control by the dental care organization system.

Purpose: to evaluate aspects of the organization of dental care for patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmia and taking anticoagulant therapy.

Methodology: a prospective study based on the data of the copy, based on the results of an objective examination conducted by dentists (n=105), as well as an anonymous questionnaire of patients with rhythm disorders (N= 100) about the subjective assessment of the oral cavity and their awareness of methods and tools of prevention.

Results: patients with cardiac arrhythmia taking anticoagulant therapy have an increased risk of bleeding as part of dental interventions. For the studied group of patients, an objective examination revealed a characteristic clinical picture of the oral cavity. The characteristics required for drawing up a personalized treatment plan for patients with cardiac arrhythmia were also identified. As part of the study, data on the degree of awareness of patients and their subjective assessment of the state of the oral cavity were obtained.

Conclusion: patients taking anticoagulant therapy require increased attention during an appointment with a dentist. It is important to identify all predictors of the development of complications, during the collection of anamnesis, to identify and level the low awareness of the patient about the methods and tools of prevention, as well as to conduct personalized oral care training.