Relationship between preterm birth and post-partum periodontal maternal status: a hospital-based Romanian study

Purpose This cross-sectional case–control study of post-partum women aimed to estimate whether maternal periodontitis was a predictive contributor to preterm birth and to identify other risk factors associated with preterm birth in our target population. Methods The case group included women who delivered preterm (74 cases) and the control group included women who had a normal term delivery (120 controls). Medical records, a 16-item questionnaire, and a full-mouth periodontal examination were used to collect information about socio-demographic characteristics, general health problems, birth-related information, behavioral factors and periodontal status. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the strength of the relationship between predictors and the categorical outcome variable, preterm birth. Results The bivariate analysis revealed the significant associations between preterm birth and socio-demographic factors (educational level, p = 0.003), antepartum smoking habit ( p = 0.001) and birth weight lower than 2500 g ( p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis highlighted that the presence of post-partum maternal periodontitis and its severity remained independent risk factors of preterm birth in the presence of antepartum smoking habit and route of delivery [adjusted OR 2.26, 95% CI (1.06; 4.82), respectively, OR 3.46, 95% CI (1.08; 11.15)]. Conclusion Post-partum maternal periodontal disease and its severity might, in part, be considered as contributor to preterm deliveries before 37 weeks of gestation.