Elastic Properties of the Aorta Are Affected in Young Patients with Sleep Bruxism

Background and aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sleep bruxism (SB) on aortic elastic properties, which predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Materials and methods: Twenty-eight patients (25 female, 3 male) with SB admitted to maxillofacial surgery outpatient clinic were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of age and sex-matched 44 volunteers (9 female, 5 male) with no Bruxism complaints and normal orofacial examination findings. The two groups were compared in terms of aortic stiffness as measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic strain, and aortic distensibility.
Results: Aortic strain and aortic distensibility were statistically significantly decreased in SB patients compared to the control group (p=0,006 and p=0,028 respectively), while PWV was increased in SB patients compared to the control group with a limited statistical significance (p=0.064). Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant positive associations between PWV and CRP level (r=0.281, p=0.017) and negative associations between aortic strain and distensibility with CRP level (r=-0.347, p=0.003 and r=-0.277, p=0.019, respectively). The diastolic function parameters, E/A, E/é mean, and E wave deceleration time, were within normal limits in SB patients, and we did not observe statistically significant differences among diastolic function parameters between two groups.
Conclusion: Our study illustrated that aortic strain and aortic distensibility were decreased while PWV was increased in patients with SB. Further studies are required to further elucidate cardiovascular system manifestations in SB patients.