Risk factors associated with premature rupture of membranes in pregnant women admitted to a tertiary hospital

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) can lead to various complications, including neonatal infections, birth asphyxia, and maternal infections. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with prelabor membrane rupture in pregnant women in a tertiary hospital. This retrospective, hospital-based, unmatched case–control study included 512 participants (250 patients and 262 controls) who attended Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Pregnant women whose membranes ruptured spontaneously before labor started beyond 24 weeks of gestation were enrolled as cases, and pregnant women who had no PROM beyond 24 weeks of gestation were enrolled as controls. Cases and controls were recruited randomly from pregnant women with or without spontaneous membrane rupture before the onset of labor beyond 24 weeks of gestational age. PROM was diagnosed based on the history of a woman releasing a large amount of fluid through her vagina before labor onset, using the nitrazine test. All data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 24.0. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of PROM. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Hypertension during the index pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio AOR = 4.753, 95% clinical confidence interval CI 1.647–7.834), history of miscarriage AOR = 6.733, 95% CI: 2.530–10.204, history of PROM AOR = 8.476, 95% CI: 4.245–18.271, history of cesarean section AOR = 6.927, 95% CI: 3.624–15.168, and ‘gestational diabetes mellitus’ AOR = 6.375, 95% CI: 2.336–11.285 were associated with premature membrane rupture. This study found that a history of PROM, miscarriage, cesarean section in the last pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, and hypertension during the current pregnancy were associated with premature membrane rupture.