Prevalence of medical conditions among patients attending dental teaching clinics in northern Jordan

J Contemp Dent Pract. 2007 Jan 1;8(1):60-7.

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of self reported medical conditions among dental patients attending dental teaching clinics in north Jordan.

Methods and materials: A total of 1,509 patients were included, of which 46.1% were males and 53.9% were females. All age groups were included and ranged between 14 and 78 years. The findings were analyzed in relation to age and gender.

Results: Overall, gastrointestinal disease was most prevalent (11.9%), followed by bleeding tendencies (9.3%), renal disorders (8.7%), respiratory disease (8.3%), and hypertension (6.4%). Only 3.2% of the participants reported having antibiotics prescribed for them prior to a dental procedure for prophylactic purposes.

Conclusion: Due to the high frequency of medical conditions, thorough evaluation of patients' medical and dental care histories should be a mandatory first step in their management.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dental Care for Chronically Ill / statistics & numerical data*
  • Dental Clinics
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Hemorrhagic Disorders / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Jordan / epidemiology
  • Kidney Diseases / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires