Salivary Flow and Buffering Capacity in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in many countries. The capacity of heart disease medications to alter the salivary flow of the patients has been extensively discussed in the scientific community. Objective: To identify the influence of medications used by patients with cardiovascular diseases before heart surgery on the salivary flow and pH. Method: The study included 70 adult patients with cardiovascular diseases, assessing their socioeconomic profile, base cardiovascular diseases and medications under use, and evaluating their salivary flow and pH. Results: The mean age in the group was 50 years and 52.9% of the evaluated patients were male. Among the cardiovascular diseases, 52.9% were valve diseases. A strongly reduced salivary flow was found in 14.3% of the patients and 32.5% used betablocker drugs. The salivary buffering capacity was considered normal. Conclusion: There was a positive association between reduced salivary flow and use of medications, especially the beta blocker drugs, while the salivary buffering capacity was normal.