Risk factors of placenta accreta in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Our objective was to identify the independent risk factors of placenta accreta. The hospital records of 44 pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta, and 1371 controls over a 10-year period were reviewed. Univariate analysis was followed by multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustment for potentially confounding variables to determine the statistically significant independent predictors of placenta accreta (p <.05). The following factors were associated with placenta accreta: maternal age of at least 35 years (P =.004), gravidity = 5 (P =.004), placenta praevia (P <.001), previous uterine curettage (P =.006) and previous caesarean delivery (P =.014). However, when examined with a multivariate model, only placenta praevia (Odds Ratio [OR] 49.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 13.1, 119.0) and maternal age = 35 (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.3, 7.9) reached a significant association. Independent risk factors of placenta accreta include placenta praevia and maternal age 35 and over.