Contribution of periodontal disease in pregnant women as a risk factor for low birth weight

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by John R. Radford.

Abstract

There would appear to be a positive association between mothers with periodontal disease and low birth-weight children.

Main

Cruz SS, Costa MN et al. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2009; 37: 527–533

In this retrospective case-control study, logistic regression analysis was used to explore associations between mothers with periodontitis and low birth-weight children. Associations with other putative factors were also studied. Periodontitis was identified using established criteria, although this was diagnosed after the birth of the child. The case group comprised 164 mothers and their children born with a weight of <2,500 g. The control group comprised 384 mothers bearing children of >2,500 g. After adjusting for confounders, there was a positive association between mothers with periodontal disease and their children with low birth weight. The authors conclude that this investigation adds to the 'growing number of observational studies with results...strengthening the consistency of the association' between mothers with periodontal disease and low birth-weight children.