IADR Abstract Archives
Identification of the Most Common Medical Conditions among Dental Patients at UTHealth School of Dentistry Clinics
Objectives: The most prevalent chronic health conditions in the U.S. are hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. As the population is living longer, the prevalence of these common chronic diseases is increasing. The University of Texas School of Dentistry (UTSD) serves patients from the Houston metropolitan area; many of whom suffer from various chronic diseases. In this research study, we determined the prevalence rates of systemic conditions self-reported by our patients and available in the medical history form of our electronic health records (EHR).
Methods: Using the BigMouth Dental Data Repository, we extracted data from patients treated at UTSD from 2015-2018. A query identified patients with health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, and depression, as documented in the EHR. The data was evaluated, crosschecked, and tabulated. Finally, we compared the prevalence of UTSD patients’ health conditions to local and national averages.
Results: Among adult patients, 18 years and older, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 28% and 12%, respectively, and were the two most common medical conditions. Approximately 10% of our patients reported a medical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and the prevalence of depression continues to rise year after year at UTSD, with more than 70% of cases being women. Lastly, approximately 20% of patients are obese (BMI ≥30), and 22% are overweight (BMI 25.0 to <30).
Conclusions: Our results confirm that hypertension is the most prevalent disease in the UTSD clinics, an upward trend of depression among UTSD patients, and higher than the national average. Our results provide valuable information to faculty, administration, and students to design and implement preventive strategies in daily clinical care with the ultimate goal of “Improving oral health…Improving overall health.”
Methods: Using the BigMouth Dental Data Repository, we extracted data from patients treated at UTSD from 2015-2018. A query identified patients with health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, and depression, as documented in the EHR. The data was evaluated, crosschecked, and tabulated. Finally, we compared the prevalence of UTSD patients’ health conditions to local and national averages.
Results: Among adult patients, 18 years and older, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 28% and 12%, respectively, and were the two most common medical conditions. Approximately 10% of our patients reported a medical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, and the prevalence of depression continues to rise year after year at UTSD, with more than 70% of cases being women. Lastly, approximately 20% of patients are obese (BMI ≥30), and 22% are overweight (BMI 25.0 to <30).
Conclusions: Our results confirm that hypertension is the most prevalent disease in the UTSD clinics, an upward trend of depression among UTSD patients, and higher than the national average. Our results provide valuable information to faculty, administration, and students to design and implement preventive strategies in daily clinical care with the ultimate goal of “Improving oral health…Improving overall health.”