A study on association between periodontal disease and pre-term low birth weight babies Padda Preeti, Assistant Professor, Padda Sarfaraz, Associate Professor & Head, Kaur Yashmeet, Sr. Lecturer, Kishore Surekha, Professor, Srivastava AK, Associate Professor Address for Correspondence: Dr. Preeti Padda, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, GGS Medical College, Sadiq road, Faridkot, Punjab. E-mail: drpreetipadda@gmail.com
Online published on 25 November, 2013. Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the association between periodontal disease and preterm low birth weight (PLBW) among mothers in district Dehradun, Uttrakhand. The periodontal status and the relative risk were also analyzed. The study consisted of 465 cases [infants <37 weeks and/or weighing ◊2.500 kilograms (kg)] and a random sample of 876 controls [≤ 37 weeks and/or weighing >2.500 kg]. The Plaque index and the gingival were used to assess the Plaque accumulation, gingivitis and periodontal status. Associated risk factors for periodontal disease and PLBW were ascertained by means of a structured questionnaire and maternal notes. The prevalence of the LBW was found to be 34.7% and PLBW was 22.3% and the prevalence of periodontal disease was high among the study population. The risk of PLBW remained high with increasing periodontal disease (odds ratio [OR] 6.85, 95% confident interval [CI] 4.84–9.70) despite controlling the other risk factors such as age, smoking, and social class. In conclusion, there is an association between periodontal disease and PLBW. Top Keywords Periodontal disease, pre-term low birth weight. Top |