Risk Factors and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes of Succenturiate Placenta: A Case-Control Study

To identify risk factors associated with succenturiate placenta and to evaluate the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and succenturiate placenta in singleton pregnancies.

The total population of women (n = 28,256) with singleton pregnancies who delivered in Zhangqiu City Hospital during the study period between 2002 and 2012 was reviewed. Risk factors. and adverse pregnancy outcomes were evaluated separately among women with and without succenturiate placenta by means of χ² and logistic regression analyses.

The incidence of succenturiate placenta among women with singleton pregnancies was 1.04% (n = 294 of 28,256). Independent risk factors for succenturiate placenta were gestational age, prepregnancy BMI, pelvic infection, prior cesarean section, infertility, and preeclampsia. The succenturiate placenta was associated with a 1.076-, 1.056-, 12.076-, 1.894-, 5.217-, and 4.814-fold increased risk, respectively, as compared to pregnancies with normal cord insertion. For pregnancy outcome comparisons, cases of premature birth, low birth weight, and 5-minute Apgar score ≤ 7 were higher in cases with succenturiate placenta than in those without succenturiate placenta. The rate of cesarean section was increased.

The results suggest that the incidence of succenturiate placenta increases along with an increase in pelvic infection, infertility, and preeclampsia. The condition of succenturiate placenta increases the risks for prematurity, impaired fetal growth, and cesarean delivery.