Obstetric history and the risk of placenta previa.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate secular trends in the occurrence of placenta previa and whether placenta previa is associated with the outcome of previous pregnancies, cesarean section, and sociodemographic factors.


METHODS
A cohort study based on the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Placenta previa in the second pregnancy was investigated for associations with outcomes in the first pregnancy and sociodemographic factors.


RESULTS
In birth orders 1 and 2 the occurrence of placenta previa was 1.2 and 2.2 per 1,000, respectively, with no secular trend. The occurrence increased with maternal age and was lowest in women aged 20-29 years. The recurrence rate was 23 per 1,000 (adjusted odds ratio (OR) of recurrence=9.7). In women with prior delivery at < or =25 gestational weeks the risk of placenta previa was 6.7 per 1,000 (adjusted OR=3.0). In women with prior placental abruption the risk was 5.8 per 1,000 (OR=2.6). In women with prior perinatal death the risk was 4.4 per 1,000 (adjusted OR= 1.8). No independent relationship emerged with socio-economic factors, previous birthweight, and a history of pregnancy induced hypertension. Cesarean section was associated with subsequent development of placenta previa (adjusted OR= 1.3).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no secular trends in the occurrence of placenta previa. Placenta previa is associated with previously described risk factors for placental abruption. The increased risk of placenta previa subsequent to placental abruption supports the theory of a shared etiologic factor. However, placenta previa and placental abruption do not share a common etiology in relation to a history of pregnancy induced hypertension, fetal growth retardation, and socio-economic factors.
Rasmussen
S
S
Medical Birth Registry of Norway, Locus of Registry-based Epidemiology, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bergen.
Albrechtsen
S
S
Dalaker
K
K
D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012042:Registries; D017584:Reproductive History; D018570:Risk Assessment