Maternal Periodontal Disease and Preterm Low Birthweight: Case-Control Study

• Published in: Journal of dental research 2002-05, Vol.81 (5), p.313-318
• Main Authors: Davenport, E.S., Williams, C.E.C.S., Sterne, J.A.C., Murad, S., Sivapathasundram, V., Curtis, M.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Dentistry; Ethnic Groups; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - complications; Humans; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Logistic Models; Maternal Age; Obstetric Labor, Premature - etiology; Odds Ratio; Periodontal Index; Periodontitis - complications; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - etiology; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/154405910208100505

Periodontal disease has been suggested to be an important risk factor for preterm low birthweight (PLBW). Here we report a case-control study of 236 cases (infants < 37 wks and weighing < 2499 g) and a daily random sample of 507 controls (≥ 38 wks and weighing ≥ 2500 g). Clinical periodontal indices were measured on the labor wards. Associated risk factors for periodontal disease and PLBW were ascertained by means of a structured questionnaire and maternity notes. The risk for PLBW decreased with increasing pocket depth (odds ratio [OR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68 to 1.00). After adjustment for maternal age, ethnicity, maternal education, smoking, alcohol consumption, infections, and hypertension during pregnancy, this decreased further (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.99). We found no evidence for an association between PLBW and periodontal disease. Our results do not support a specific drive to improve periodontal health of pregnant women as a means of improving pregnancy outcomes.