title: Effect of maternal periodontitis and low birth weight--a case control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the 1990s, evidence has been raised that there is an association between maternal periodontal disease and undesirable gestational events, for example low birth weight; this issue is controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether there is an association between maternal periodontitis and low birth weight (LBW).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out on 951 mothers that had been cared for by the Brazilian Unified Health System in Petrolina-PE and Juazeiro-BA, Brazil. The case group (n = 269) consisted of mothers of newborns with birth weight <2500 g and a control group (n = 682) of mothers of newborns with birth weight ≥2500 g. An interview was realized, using a questionnaire as well as a full mouth examination to diagnose the periodontal condition. Women who had at least four teeth with probing depth ≥4 mm and clinical attachment loss ≥3 mm, with bleeding on probing at the same site, were diagnosed with periodontitis. The birth weight was obtained through the hospital book record. The main association was evaluated using the multivariate regression model, considering confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of periodontitis was 16.4% (case group) and 17.4% (control group). Periodontitis did not show an association with LBW (ORcrude = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.63-1.35), even after adjustment for the following confounders: maternal age, pre-gestational body mass index, number of pre-natal consultations, number of pregnancies, maternal schooling level, smoking habit during pregnancy and hypertension (ORadjusted = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.61-1.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study showed no association between maternal periodontal disease and low birth weight, even after appropriate adjustments for confounding factors.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luise Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: b 2 Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone Seixas da
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isaac Suzart
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gomes-Filho
authors.affiliation: c 3 Collective Health Institute, Federal University of Bahia , Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Johelle Santana
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Passos-Soares
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Soraya Castro
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Trindade
authors.affiliation: b 2 Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antônio de Jesus , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Claudia Morais Godoy
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: d 4 Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão , São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claúdia Maria Coêlho
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Periodontics, Feira de Santana State University , Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julita Maria Freitas
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: e 5 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia , Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Isabel Pereira
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vianna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D010298:Parity; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000150:complications; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012907:Smoking; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; low birth weight; periodontitis