Coronary heart disease (CHD) is responsible for one-third of deaths worldwide. Therefore, identifying potential risk factors can help in early diagnosis and effective management. In a recent study, researchers investigated if infection with Fusobacterium nucleatum , a bacterium that causes gum disease and bad breath, may increase the risk of heart disease, and preventing or treating the infection can decrease the risk of heart disease.
In the study, out of approximately 3500 participants of the longitudinal population-based cohort, that mainly investigated the biological, environmental, and genetic determinants of cardiovascular diseases around 6% experienced cardiovascular events during the 12-year follow-up period. The team tested participants for antibodies against 15 viruses, six bacteria, and one parasite; and found antibodies against F. nucleatum , which were linked to increased…
