Association between periodontal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a cohort of pregnant women in Jordan

Background: The relationship between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse pregnancy outcomes remain unclear. The authors' objective was to assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Jordanian women with periodontal disease compared to those without. Materials and Methods: Between April 2009 and June 2010, 277 pregnant women with no systemic diseases at gestational age < 20 weeks were enrolled in the study. Dental and oral health examination was performed at enrollment after demographic, medical, and obstetrical information were recorded. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained by phone contact and review of medical records. Results: The incidence of periodontal disease in the pregnant women enrolled was 31%. Women with PD were at higher risk for developing preeclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PB), and low birth weight (LBW). The rate of PE in women with PD was 18.6% compared to 7.3% in the control group (p = 0.005) (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2, 6.0). The OR for PB was (4.4,95% CI: 1.7, 11.7) and for LBW was (3.5, 95% CI: 1.6, 7.5). Conclusions: PD is associated with increased risk of PE, PB, and LBW in healthy Jordanian women.