243168 Oral-systemic women's health across the lifespan: A systematic review of the literature

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Ellen Daley, PhD , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Karen Dyer, MA, MPH , Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Stephanie L. Marhefka, PhD , Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Sarah A. Smith, MPH , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Hannah L. Helmy, MA, MPH , Community and Family Health, University of South Florida College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Laura Marsh, BS , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Purpose Many women's health (WH) issues are impacted by oral-systemic connections (e.g., pregnancy related gingivitis and pregnancy outcomes). This study describes the methods and results of a systematic literature review assessing oral-systemic WH issues that are prevalent across the lifespan. This literature review is part a collaborative for developing a transdisciplinary approach to WH.

Methods: PubMed Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were utilized to conduct the review. MeSH terms were chosen to represent oral health (n=33 terms) and major WH issues (n=35 terms). MeSH terms for WH issues were chosen based on priority health issues identified in Healthy People 2020 and the Office of Women's Health. Search limits included: English, meta-analysis or review article, and publication date between January 1990 and November 2010. Articles were then reviewed for relevancy, based on whether the article was a review of the literature and described a condition with oral-systemic connections.

Results: The search yielded 3,541 articles; 15% were identified as relevant. Although the parameters were set within PubMed, a majority of articles were case-studies and practice-oriented publications. Although very few articles specifically described women as the focus, a number did cover topics that disproportionately impact women. Among those that fit parameters of study, topics ranged from oral-systemic connections related to prenatal care and pregnancy to cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis.

Conclusion: The data gathered through this systemic literature review serve as a first step in a larger systems-oriented study. Results allowed for the collaborative to identify information gaps for next steps in the transdisciplinary process.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the current literature regarding women’s health issues with oral-systemic connections. 2. Discuss the gaps and future directions for research connecting the oral-systemic links in women’s health. 3. Explore the coordination of potential primary, secondary, and tertiary care opportunities between oral and women’s health providers.

Keywords: Oral Health, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated on this study as a student investigator.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Individual, social, and community factors related to women's health across the lifecycle
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