Periodontal status and quality of life in pregnant women with both overweight/obesity and hypertension: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the periodontal condition and quality of life of pregnant women affected with both overweight/obesity and arterial hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pregnant women were dived into three groups: with overweight/obesity and hypertension (G1 = 23), with overweight/obesity without hypertension (G2 = 31) and with normal BMI and without hypertension (G3 = 38). They were evaluated regarding: contextual variables (age, socioeconomic level and anthropometric parameters); periodontal status; and quality of life (adapted version of Oral Health Impact Profile – OHIP-14). ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, chi-square and binary logistic regression model were adopted (p< 0.05). RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences for age (p = 0.700), education level (p = 0.119) and gestational weight gain (p = 0.415), nevertheless G2 differed from G3 regarding household monthly income (p = 0.040). G2 had higher prevalence of bleeding on probing than G3 (p = 0.001), but G1 and G2 presented higher prevalence of periodontitis (p< 0.001). Household monthly income (adjusted OR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.52 - 0.98; p = 0.038) and hypertension (adjusted OR = 3.70; 95% CI = 1.16 - 11.80; p = 0.026) remained in the final logistic regression model [X2(4) = 21.79; p = 0.0002; R2 of Nagelkerke = 0.284]. G1 showed worse impact on quality of life, mainly regarding physical pain (p< 0 .001), psychological discomfort (p< 0 .001), physical disability (p< 0 .001), social disability (p = 0.005) and handicap (p< 0 .001). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, maternal excessive weight is associated with periodontitis during pregnancy. Moreover, the presence of hypertension in overweight pregnant women seems to be determinant to negatively influence their quality of life, resulting in physical, psychological and social damages. Key words:Hypertension, obesity, overweight, periodontitis, quality of life.