Association between periodontitis and low birth weight: a case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To verify a possible association between periodontitis and low-birth-weight babies.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-one mothers were examined. The case group included 76 mothers (mean age 25.6 years), whose babies at birth weighed <2500 g and had a gestational age (GA) <37 weeks, while 75 mothers (mean age 24.4 years), whose babies were born with a weight of >2500 g and with a GA>37 weeks, were the control group. Data from the mothers and the babies were collected from the Hospital registration records and during an interview with the mother. The periodontal examination included measurements of probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) in six sites from all existing teeth, except for third molars. Mothers with periodontitis had at least four sites with PPD> or =4 and CAL> or =3 mm, while healthy mothers had PPD< or =3 mm and CAL< or =1 mm.


RESULTS
The median number of sites with PPD> or =4 and CAL> or =3 mm was eight in the case group, and four in the control group. The significant associations with low birth weight (LBW) babies were periodontitis (odds ratio (OR)=3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17; 10.36), arterial hypertension (OR=9.65, 95% CI: 2.22; 41.91), haemorrhage during pregnancy (OR=10.88, 95% CI: 1.95; 60.53), number of pre-natal examinations (OR=0.10, 95% CI: 0.02; 0.43) and genitourinary infection (OR=3.21, 95% CI: 1.25; 8.20).


CONCLUSIONS
Periodontitis was considered a risk indicator for LBW in this sample, similar to other risk factors already recognized by obstetricians.
Department of Pedodontics, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Luiz Flávio Martins
LF
Moliterno
Bruno
B
Monteiro
Carlos Marcelo da Silva
CM
Figueredo
Ricardo Guimarães
RG
Fischer
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors