Oral and Abundance in Subjects in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention, with or Without Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Background: Low-grade chronic inflammation, promoted by dysbiosis of the gut and oral microbiota, has been shown to contribute to individual susceptibility to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). High oral () and lower concentrations have been associated with clinical and experimental atherosclerosis. We assessed oral and abundance in very high-risk patients with previously diagnosed ASCVD, with or without heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), in subjects with HeFH in primary prevention and in healthy subjects.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 40 patients with previously diagnosed ASCVD (10 with genetically proven HeFH, and 30 without FH), 26 subjects with HeFH in primary prevention, and 31 healthy subjects were selected to quantify oral and abundance by qPCR and assess oral health status.

Results: Compared to healthy subjects, patients with previously diagnosed ASCVD showed greater abundance (1101.3 vs. 192.4, = 0.03), but similar abundance. HeFH patients with ASCVD had an even greater abundance than did non-HeFH patients and healthy subjects (1770.6 vs. 758.4 vs. 192.4, respectively; = 0.048). No differences were found in the levels of and abundance in HeFH subjects in primary prevention, as compared to healthy subjects.

Conclusions: Greater oral abundance is present in very high-risk patients with previously diagnosed ASCVD, with or without FH, suggesting a potential relationship with CV events. Future studies will assess the predictive value of abundance measurement in ASCVD risk stratification.