correlates of oral health conditions and oral health literacy among a sample of patients with cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study

Background: oral health literacy (ohl) and dental health indicators in people with cardiovascular diseases(cvds) are important health conditions that have been less investigated in this group of patients. the aimof the present study was to evaluate oral health conditions and ohl in adult patients with cardiovascularconditions who referred to dental clinics in southwest, iran.methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted in ahvaz, iran in 2021-2022. the oral and dental healthstatus and literacy of 302 people were investigated, and data were collected using a standard questionnaireabout ohl (with dimensions of comprehension and calculation ability), as well as demographic andmedical information. then, the patients were clinically examined by a dentist to determine oral healthindicators (decayed, missing, and filled teeth: dmft) and oral health index (ohi-s). finally, data wereanalyzed using spss, version 22.results: the mean dmft was 11.06 ± 3.55. according to the ohi-s, 124 (41.1%), 75 (24.8%), and 103(34.1%) people were categorized in mean, good, and poor oral health levels, respectively. pearson’scorrelation coefficient demonstrated a direct, strong, and significant relationship between age and dmftand ohi (r = 0.702, r = 0.678 p < 0.001). the relationship between understanding ability and dmft andohi was inversely correlated (r = -0.389, r = -0.278, p < 0.001), and the relationship between calculationability and ohi, as well as between calculation ability and dmft was inverse and significant ((r = -0.572,p < 0.001) and r = -0.429, p < 0.001, respectively).conclusion: the results showed that there is a relationship between ohl and ohi in people with cvd,although it is not in a favorable condition. as a result, the design, implementation, and evaluation of oralhealth education programs for patients with cvd are highly recommended, and it is imperative that oraland dental health be carefully monitored in these patients.