Gender-related differences in self-reported dental care in adults with congenital heart disease at increased risk of infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: Adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE). Women with CHD have a lower IE risk, potentially due to gender-related differences in dental care. We aimed to assess self-reported dental hygiene measures in adults with CHD, and to identify factors associated with good oral hygiene.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Descriptive study includes 187 adults with CHD at increased risk of IE. The patients' IE knowledge was assessed using an adapted version of the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for CHD. Their mean age was 34.9±14.9 years, 73 of them (39%) were women, 91 (49%) were at high risk for IE, including 66 (35%) with a prosthetic valve, 14 (7%) with a history of IE and 11 (6%) with cyanotic CHD or residual shunts/valvular regurgitation in the proximity of prosthetic material. The self-defined IE knowledge score did not differ between men and women (21.6±10.0 vs 23.4±10.0; p=0.225). 126 patients (67%) reported to have a good oral hygiene. Female gender (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.4), and a higher IE knowledge score (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.5, per 5 points) were the variables independently associated with good oral hygiene.

CONCLUSIONS: In adults with CHD, patients with a higher IE knowledge score and women are more likely to practise dental care as recommended. Gender differences in oral hygiene practise may explain the observed lower female IE incidence rate. Efforts to improve patients' knowledge on IE are encouraged.