title: Exposure measurement in the association between periodontal disease and prematurity/low birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the use of different definitions for exposure measurement in cases of association between periodontal disease (PD) and prematurity and/or low birth weight (PLBW).
  
  
  METHODS
  A database from a previous case-control study was used to compare four different definitions for periodontitis: at least one site with probing depth > or =4 mm (1); at least one site with clinical attachment loss (CAL)> or =3 mm (2); at least four teeth with one or more sites presenting probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site (3); and at least four teeth with one or more sites with probing depth > or =4 mm, with CAL> or =3 mm at the same site and presence of bleeding on probing (4). The PD frequency, diagnostic values and adjusted association measurements were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD frequency ranged from 33.1% to 94.7%. Odds ratio(adjusted) varied slightly according to the exposure measurement used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between PD and PLBW weight was consistent, except for exposure measurement 1, i.e. using at least one site with CAL> or =3 mm for periodontitis diagnosis, while the magnitude of this varied according to the definition established.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisa, Prática Integrada e Investigação Multidisciplinar, Feira de Santana State University, Bahia, Brazil. isuzart@gmail.com
authors.forename: Isaac S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gomes-Filho
authors.forename: Simone S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Edson J C
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Rezende
authors.forename: Carlos Antônio S T
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Kaliane R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Soledade
authors.forename: Maurício A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Antônio César O
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.forename: Soraya C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.forename: Maria Isabel P
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vianna
authors.forename: Johelle de S
authors.initials: Jde S
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Eneida M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors