Periodontal disease prevalence and risk factors in women with a history of preterm birth

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of periodontal disease (PD), and evaluate associated risk factors in a population of women with recent preterm birth (PTB). Methods: We examined data from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial, the Philadelphia Collaborative Preterm Prevention Project. Low-income, urban women with a recent preterm birth were enrolled at delivery, completed comprehensive surveys at enrollment, 1 month postpartum and at 6 month intervals for 2 years (n = 1126). A dental hygienist offered periodontal disease (PD) screening (including probing in each oral sextant) at the 1, 12, and 24 months visits. 765 women completed enrollment and 1 month survey and were screened for PD. Women with a screening score; >/= 3 in at least one sextant were considered PD positive. Results: 56% of participants were PD positive. PD was associated with age, race, income, marital status, education, parity, smoking, BMI, and bleeding of gums. Logistic regression revealed independent associations with: age ( >30 vs. /=; $30,000 aOR 1.88 (1.14, 4.32); African American or Hispanic vs. non Hispanic whites aOR 5.56 (2.99, 10.34) and 4.13 (2.06, 8.27) respectively; women with >/=;2 children vs. primiparous women aOR 1.71 (1.11, 2.65); and pre-pregnancy smokers (>/=;7 packs/wk vs. non-smokers) aOR 1.87 (1.00, 3.50); underweight or obese women vs. normal BMI aOR 2.26 (1.22, 4.18) and 2.00 (1.34, 3.01) respectively. Conclusions: In this sample we found an unexpectedly high rate of periodontal disease associated with numerous demographic factors.