Reliability of self-reported heart murmur history: possible impact on antibiotic use in dentistry

J Am Dent Assoc. 1998 Jul;129(7):861-6. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1998.0350.

Abstract

Administration of prophylactic antibiotics to a dental patient with a history of heart murmur, rheumatic fever or mitral valve prolapse should be based on a reliable diagnosis of heart valve disease. The authors conducted a study of 68 diabetic patients who reported having these conditions and found that at least 65 percent of these patients actually had no evidence of a pathological heart murmur during two previous physical examinations. They concluded that a self-reported history of heart valve disease should not be the sole criterion for antibiotic premedication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Dental Care*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / prevention & control
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Heart Murmurs / complications*
  • Heart Murmurs / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical History Taking
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse / complications
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse / diagnosis
  • Physical Examination
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease / complications
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease / diagnosis
  • Self Concept