Risk factors for placental abruption in a socio-economically disadvantaged region.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken in order to determine the risk factors for pregnancies complicated by placental abruption in a socio-economically disadvantaged region in metropolitan Adelaide.


METHODS
This was a retrospective case-control study including all singleton pregnancies resulting in placental abruption between 2001 and 2005.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of placental abruption was 1.0%; the overall perinatal mortality among the births with abruption was 13%. Univariate analyses showed the following significant risk factors for placental abruption: preterm pre-labor rupture of the membranes (PRE-PROM; odds ratio (OR) 4.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-15.08), non-compliance with antenatal care (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.06-8.90), severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and elevated homocysteine levels (OR 45.55, 95% CI 7.05-458.93). Severe IUGR was significantly more common in the abruption group compared with the control group (p = 0.032). In the multivariate analysis, PRE-PROM remained a significant independent risk factor for placental abruption. Marijuana use, domestic violence, and mental health problems were more common (borderline significance) in the abruption group. Smoking and preeclampsia were not found to be associated with placental abruption in this study.


CONCLUSIONS
In this high-risk population, PRE-PROM and elevated homocysteine levels appear to represent the major risk factors for placental abruption.
Budde
Marenne P
MP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lyell McEwin Health Service, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
De Lange
Titia E
TE
Dekker
Gus A
GA
Chan
Annabelle
A
Nguyen
Anh-Minh T
AM
D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000453:epidemiology; D035862:Vulnerable Populations