title: Relationship of periodontal disease to pre-term low birth weight infants in a selected population--a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess effect of periodontal status of antenatal mothers on pregnancy outcomes in a selected population in Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study on a multi-ethnic convenient sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 healthy pregnant women between 28 to 36 gestation weeks attending 5 ante-natal centres were recruited. Both Interviewer-administered Questionnaire and Periodontal examination, which included Plaque index, Gingival index, Papillary Bleeding index, probing pocket depth and attachment loss were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnancy outcome data which included gestational age at delivery, birth weight of newborn and delivery complications were collected after delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study sample of 73 mothers was approximately in 1:3 case:control ratio (21.9% & 78.1% respectively). Case was defined as those with preterm (PT) deliveries and low birth weight (LBW) infants whereas control was otherwise. 37 pregnant women were diagnosed with periodontal disease (minimum 2 teeth with > or = 5 mm periodontal pockets and > or = 3 mm attachment loss) and 36 without periodontal disease (PD). Of those with PD, 4 (10.8%) had PT delivery and 3 (8.1%) had LBW infants. None of the PD variable means or PD status associated significantly with either of the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis to test the possible predictor (demographic and clinical) for PT or LBW status indicated only Plaque Index mean as a significant predictor (P < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study population, PD was not shown to be a risk factor for PT delivery or LBW infant. Only mean Plaque Index was associated with PT deliveries and LBW infants.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. tara@um.edu.my
authors.forename: T B Taiyeb
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: K Zainal
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Abidin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008296:Malaysia; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult