About 15% of pregnant women have a single miscarriage in their lifetime. This spontaneous termination of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of premature mortality.
- The risk of miscarriage increases with age. At age 25, it is 12% per cycle and 50% at age 42.
- After having had a miscarriage, women are more at risk of developing hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. These pathologies increase their risk of dying before the age of 70 by 20%.
Bleeding, pelvic cramps, abdominal pain, blood clots… These different symptoms indicate that a miscarriage is occurring. This spontaneous termination of pregnancy occurs during the first 5 months. This complication is said to be “isolated” when it appears only once. We speak of a “repeated” spontaneous termination of pregnancy when “the woman under 40, pregnant with the same partner, has at least 3 consecutive spontaneous arrests before” the first trimester. According to a study published in the journal British Medical Journalwomen who have had a miscarriage are more likely to die before the age of 70.
To reach this conclusion, the American researchers analyzed data from 101,681 nurses who participated in work on their health. As part of this research, participants of childbearing age were followed for 24 years between 1993 and 2017. They completed questionnaires every two years and were asked about their pregnancies and lifestyle.
20% increased risk of dying
Scientists have found that about a quarter of women have had at least one miscarriage. According to the results, during the study, 2,936 premature deaths, i.e. before the age of 70, were recorded, including 1,346 cancer-related deaths and 269 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. “All-cause mortality rates were comparable in women with and without a history of miscarriage. But they were higher in women with three miscarriages and in those who reported a first miscarriage before the age of 24 years”, can we read in the study.
According to the study authors, women who have had a miscarriage are almost 20% more likely to die before the age of 70 because they are more likely to suffer from hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes after this pregnancy complication.
“Our results suggest that miscarriage may be an early marker of future health risk in women. Further research is needed to understand how miscarriage impacts women’s health and the mechanisms underlying these relationships”, concluded the researchers.
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