A Case-Finding Protocol for High Cardiovascular Risk in a Primary Care Dental School—Model with Integrated Care

Amazon Doble (), Raul Bescos, Robert Witton, Shabir Shivji, Richard Ayres and Zoë Brookes ()
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Amazon Doble: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Raul Bescos: School of Health Professions, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Robert Witton: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Shabir Shivji: Office of the Chief Dental Officer, London SE1 6LH, UK
Richard Ayres: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Zoë Brookes: Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Background: National Health Service (NHS) strategies in the United Kingdom (UK) have highlighted the need to maximise case-finding opportunities by improving coverage in non-traditional settings with the aim of reducing delayed diagnosis of non-communicable diseases. Primary care dental settings may also help to identify patients. Methods: Case-finding appointments took place in a primary care dental school. Measurements of blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, glucose and QRisk were taken along with a social/medical history. Participants with high cardiometabolic risk were referred to their primary care medical general practitioner (GP) and/or to local community health self-referral services, and followed up afterwards to record diagnosis outcome. Results: A total of 182 patients agreed to participate in the study over a 14-month period. Of these, 123 (67.5%) attended their appointment and two participants were excluded for age. High blood pressure (hypertension) was detected in 33 participants, 22 of whom had not been previous diagnosed, and 11 of whom had uncontrolled hypertension. Of the hypertensive individuals with no previous history, four were confirmed by their GP. Regarding cholesterol, 16 participants were referred to their GP for hypercholesterolaemia: 15 for untreated hypercholesterolaemia and one for uncontrolled hypercholesterolaemia. Conclusions: Case-finding for hypertension and identifying cardiovascular risk factors has high acceptability in a primary dental care setting and supported by confirmational diagnoses by the GP.

Keywords: hypertension; hyperglycaemia; hypercholesterolaemia; case-finding; health referral (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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