Periodontal disease and preterm delivery: a nationwide population-based cohort study of Taiwan

Preterm delivery of low-birth weight infants is considered a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates. Various studies have reported a positive correlation between periodontal disease (PD) and premature birth (PB) and yet no population-based study has assessed the impact of PD severity and treatments on premature birth. This cohort study used Taiwan’s national medical records (1999–2012, included 1,757,774 pregnant women) to investigate the association between PD severity and PB. Women with PD during the 2-year period prior for giving birth were more likely to have PB (11.38%) than those without PD (10.56%; p < 0.001). After variables adjustment, the advanced PD group had OR of 1.09 (95% CI 1.07–1.11) for PB, the mild PD group had OR of 1.05 (95% CI 1.04–1.06), while no-PD group had OR of 1. Increased PD severity was related to higher risk of PB. When stratified by age, the highest ORs for PB were those aged from 31 to 35 years in both mild PD group (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.07–1.11) and advanced PD group (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.17). Improving periodontal health before or during pregnancy may prevent or reduce the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes and therefore maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.