Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between albumin levels during the third trimester and the risk of postpartum levator ani muscle rupture. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 410 parturients undergoing vaginal delivery at Zhangzhou Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University was conducted. Parturients were classified into low-albumin (<35 g/L) and normal-albumin (≥35 g/L) groups based on their albumin levels during the third trimester. Data on levator ani muscle rupture and various clinical parameters were collected and analyzed using multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The low-albumin group comprised 38.29% of participants and had a significantly higher incidence of levator ani muscle rupture (53.50%) compared to the normal-albumin group (33.20%; P < 0.05). Albumin levels strongly correlated with rupture risk (r = 0.193, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed low albumin levels were an independent risk factor (OR = 2.286, 95% CI: 1.259-4.152). Other independent risk factors included forceps-assisted delivery, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m², age ≥ 35 years, and second stage of labor duration ≥ 120 min (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Decreased albumin levels are an independent risk factor for postpartum levator ani muscle rupture, suggesting a potential role in increasing the risk of muscle injury.