Abstract:Objective To analyze the risk factors associated with breakthrough pain (BTP) after epidural labor analgesia.Methods A total of 273 parturients who received epidural labor analgesia at Meishan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from November 2025 to March 2026 were enrolled and divided into a BTP group (n = 59) and a non-BTP group (n = 214) based on the occurrence of BTP after analgesia. Demographic and baseline clinical characteristics, labor and delivery-related parameters, and epidural analgesia technique and management parameters were compared between the groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for BTP after epidural labor analgesia.Results The BTP group exhibited significantly lower height, hemoglobin level, bolus dose, and cervical dilation at the initiation of analgesia compared with the non-BTP group, while the proportion of women with a parity of 1, occiput posterior position, as well as the duration of the first stage of labor, estimated fetal birth weight, and NRS scores at 15 min and 30 min post-analgesia were significantly higher in the BTP group than in the non-BTP group (P < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that lower hemoglobin level [O^R = 0.891 (95% CI: 0.800, 0.991) ], longer duration of the first stage of labor [O^R = 1.015 (95% CI: 1.004, 1.027) ], smaller bolus dose [O^R = 0.968 (95% CI: 0.940, 0.997) ], higher NRS score at 15 min post-analgesia [O^R = 6.505 (95% CI: 1.040, 40.698) ], and larger estimated fetal birth weight [O^R = 1.017 (95% CI: 1.008, 1.025) ] were independent risk factors for BTP after labor analgesia (P < 0.05).Conclusion Lower hemoglobin level, prolonged first stage of labor, smaller bolus dose, higher NRS score at 15 min post-analgesia, and larger estimated fetal birth weight are independent risk factors for BTP after labor analgesia. Clinical monitoring and intervention should be strengthened targeting these specific factors.