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Periodontitis and pre-eclampsia among pregnant women in Rwanda: A case-control study
Agnes Gatarayiha1, Joseph Ntaganira2, Zoe Brookes3
1College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Plos One
|October 14, 2024
Summary
Periodontitis, a gum disease, significantly increases the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant Rwandan women. Improving periodontal health may help reduce pre-eclampsia rates in this population.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Periodontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Periodontitis is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including pre-eclampsia.
- Rwanda faces high rates of both periodontitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
- A gap exists in understanding the specific link between periodontitis and pre-eclampsia in Rwanda.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between periodontitis and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women in Rwanda.
Main Methods:
- An unmatched case-control study involving 52 pre-eclamptic and 104 non-pre-eclamptic pregnant women (aged ≥18).
- Periodontitis defined by clinical attachment loss and pocket depth; pre-eclampsia by hypertension and proteinuria.
- Statistical analysis included bivariate analysis and logistic regression to determine Odds Ratios (ORs).
Main Results:
- Periodontitis prevalence was substantially higher in women with pre-eclampsia (90.4%) versus those without (55.8%).
- Women with periodontitis were 3.85 times more likely to develop pre-eclampsia (aOR = 3.85).
Conclusions:
- Periodontitis is significantly associated with pre-eclampsia among pregnant women in Rwanda.
- Further research is recommended to explore if improving periodontal health can mitigate pre-eclampsia risk in this population.
