Is there an association between periodontal disease, prematurity and low birth weight? A population-based study

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

When maternal health variables were taken into account, there was no association in this Brazilian population.

Main

Lunardelli AN, Peres MA. J Clin Periodontol 2005; 32: 938–946

Some studies purporting to show an association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy effects have had methodological limitations, particularly confounding variables. This study examined the matter in a Brazilian maternity hospital during a 5 month period. After exclusions for confounders and refusals, 449 of 496 invited subjects received an interview and periodontal examination within 48 hrs of parturition, from clinicians blinded to the status of their babies.

In unadjusted comparisons, low birth weight (LBW) was associated with low income, smoking during pregnancy, previous LBW babies, and other obstetric variables. It was not associated with periodontal pocketing. Similarly, prematurity was associated with low income, low BMI and some obstetric variables. It was also associated with the presence of a periodontal pocket in at least one site after adjusting for some variables (OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0-6.9).

However, logistic regression analysis including variables relating to maternal health during pregnancy found no significant association. The authors conclude that LBW and prematurity are not associated with maternal periodontal health in this population.