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Published on: May 30, 2025
Periodontal disease and preterm delivery: a nationwide population-based cohort study of Taiwan
Ya-Ling Lee1,2,3, Hsiao-Yun Hu4,5,6, Sin-Yi Chou7
1Department of Dentistry, Taipei City Hospital, No.145, Zhengzhou Rd., Datong Dist., Taipei City, 10341, Taiwan, ROC. DAE30@tpech.gov.tw.
Insights
Periodontal disease (PD) increases the risk of premature birth (PB). This study found that increased PD severity is linked to a higher likelihood of PB, particularly in women aged 31-35.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Periodontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm delivery and low-birth weight infants are significant causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
- Previous research suggests a correlation between periodontal disease (PD) and premature birth (PB), but population-based studies on PD severity and treatment impact are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the severity of periodontal disease (PD) and the risk of premature birth (PB) in a large population-based cohort.
- To assess the impact of PD severity on PB risk, considering different age groups.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study utilizing Taiwan's national medical records from 1999 to 2012.
- Inclusion of 1,757,774 pregnant women to analyze the association between PD status in the two years prior to birth and PB.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for relevant variables.
Main Results:
- Women with PD were more likely to experience PB (11.38%) compared to those without PD (10.56%; p < 0.001).
- Increased PD severity correlated with a higher risk of PB: advanced PD (OR=1.09) and mild PD (OR=1.05).
- The highest ORs for PB were observed in women aged 31-35 with mild PD (OR=1.09) and advanced PD (OR=1.13).
Conclusions:
- Periodontal disease severity is associated with an increased risk of premature birth.
- Improving periodontal health before or during pregnancy may be a strategy to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- This finding highlights the importance of oral health in maternal and perinatal health outcomes.
Abstract:
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.
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