Preterm premature rupture of membranes is not an independent risk factor for neonatal morbidity.

Objective : To evaluate the risk factors for development of neonatal morbidity in cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Methods : The study population consisted of 2326 singleton preterm births occurring between 1994 and 1997 at Soroka University Medical Center. The neonatal morbidity included respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage (grade III-IV), necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neonatal pneumonia and sepsis. A cross-sectional study was designed to compare neonatal morbidity between two groups: the study group consisted of patients with PPROM ( n = 376) and the comparison group of patients without PPROM ( n = 1950). Results : The prevalence of the neonatal morbidity associated with PPROM was 13.0% (49/376). There was no statistically significant difference in neonatal morbidity rates between the PPROM group and the group with intact membranes in any of the birth-weight groups (Mantel-Haenszel weighted odds ratio 1....