Periodontal Infection During Pregnancy and its Association with the Delivery of Pre-Term Low Birth Weight Babies

This study was conducted to investigate any association between periodontal disease during pregnancy and delivery of pre-term low birth weight (PLBW) babies in a population of Pakistani women during pregnancy (age=18–35 years) who are nutritionally healthy, socio-economically sound and not under influence of any medical disease.

Cross-sectional study conducted at Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore.

Study selected (calculated sample size=325) mothers after excluding known confounders for PLBW. Periodontal status of mothers and their delivery outcome recorded on a specially designed proforma. Sample divided into two groups according to delivery outcomes. SPSS 11.0 was used for data analysis. Percentage frequencies were calculated for periodontal and delivery outcome variables. Fisher's exact chi-square test with 5% level of significance was applied to analyze statistical association and Odd's ratio was also calculated.

Out of total 325, 21.2% (n=69) women delivered PLBW babies, out of which 15 had healthy periodontal status and 43.4% (n=30) had periodontal pockets depth of >4 mm, remaining had bleeding gums and calculus. Women delivering normal birth weight babies (n=256), 42 had healthy periodontal status, 35.9% (n=92) had periodontal pockets. No significant difference was observed in periodontal status of two groups (p>0.05). Odd's Ratio calculated for the periodontal pocket depth between both the groups was 0.72 (CI=95%; Chi=0.58).

Study failed to show any association between periodontal disease (indicated by pocket depth) and the delivery of low birth weight. However, periodontal disease level was high in both the groups.