Analysis of periodontal condition, and its impact on quality of life, in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy excessive weight before and after delivery

This observational and longitudinal study evaluated the periodontal condition in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation and after delivery. In 2nd gestational trimester (T1), pregnant women (n=93) were divided into: pregnant women with excessive weight (PEW=53) and normal weight (PNW=40) and subsequently examined in 3rd trimester (T2) and, at least, 2 months after delivery (T3). Patients were evaluated: a) Systemic compromises during pregnancy - Arterial Hypertension [AH] Gestational Diabetes Mellitus [GDM] and anemia (T1, T2 and T3); b) Gestational weight gain (T3) c) Periodontal condition - periodontitis, gingivitis and dental calculus (T1, T2 and T3); d) Quality of life - Oral Health Impact Profile Questionnaire [OHIP-14] (T1 and T3); e) Anthropometric and systemic health condition after gestation. T test, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis and logistic regression (Stepwise Forward) were adopted (p<0.05). PEW showed higher frequency of DMG and AH in T1 and T2, respectively (p=0.047 and p=0.004). In T2 PEW showed excessive weight gain, above that expected (p=0.019). Higher frequency of periodontitis was found in all periods for PEW (p<0.05). There were differences between groups regarding gingivitis only in T2 (p=0.011), being higher in PEW. PNW showed improvement of all periodontal parameters after delivery, whereas PEW showed no difference of these parameters between periods. There were no differences between groups in T1 and T3 regarding OHIP-14 overall score. However, three dimensions and total OHIP-14 score improved after delivery for both groups. In T3, PEW showed higher BMI, waist-hip ratio and risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Logistic regression showed that pregnant women with periodontitis in the 3rd trimester and after delivery were, respectively, 4.28 and 11.70 more likely to be overweight. It can be concluded that PEW present worse systemic and periodontal conditions during pregnancy and after delivery, and periodontitis is closely related to excess weight. In addition, worst oral condition during pregnancy negatively impacts quality of life of the patients. (AU)