EPIDEMIOLOGIC CORRELATES OF PRETERM PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES

Objective: To study the clinical risk factors for preterm premature rupture of membranes (FROM). Method: We conducted a case-control study of 138 patients with FROM between 24 and 35 weeks' gestation and 267 control subjects. Results: In stepwise multiple logistic regression models, the population of cases was more likely to be of low social class. Other risk factors for FROM were smoking in pregnancy, Ist or 2nd-3rd trimester hemorrhages, cervical incompetence and a documented cervico-vaginal infection during index pregnancy. First trimester hemorrhage and a documented cervico-vaginal infection during index pregnancy were associated with preterm FROM both in nulliparous and in multiparous women. Conclusion: Few potentially remediable risk factors are associated with the occurrence of preterm FROM.