Teenage pregnancy as a risk factor for placental abruption: Findings from the prospective Japan environment and children's study

PLoS One. 2021 May 13;16(5):e0251428. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251428. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Objective: Placental abruption is a significant obstetric complication that affects both maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The present study examined the effect of maternal age on the incidence of placental abruption.

Methods: We used data of singleton pregnancies from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which was a prospective birth cohort study conducted between January 2011 and March 2014 across 15 regional centers in Japan. A multiple regression model was used to identify whether maternal age (<20 years, 20-24 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years, and ≥35 years) is a risk factor for placental abruption. The analyses were conducted while considering the history of placental abruption, assisted reproductive technology, number of previous deliveries, smoking during pregnancy, body mass index before pregnancy, and chronic hypertension.

Results: A total of 94,410 Japanese women (93,994 without placental abruption and 416 with placental abruption) were recruited. Herein, 764, 8421, 25915, 33517, and 25793 women were aged <20 years, 20-24 years, 25-29 years, 30-34 years, and ≥35 years, respectively. Besides advanced maternal age (≥35 years; adjusted odds ratio: 1.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-2.5), teenage pregnancy was also a risk factor for placental abruption (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-6.5) when the maternal age of 20-24 years was set as a reference.

Conclusions: In the Japanese general population, besides advanced maternal age, teenage pregnancy was associated with placental abruption. Recently, the mean maternal age has been changing in Japan. Therefore, it is important for obstetric care providers to provide proper counseling to young women based on up-to-date evidence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abruptio Placentae / etiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Maternal Age
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy in Adolescence
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was supported by funding from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan for the JECS. The findings and conclusions of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the Japanese government.