Risk factors for 14-21 week abortions: a case-control study in Europe. The Europop Group.
Data from a case-control survey in Europe, carried out between 1994 and 1997, were used to investigate the risk factors for spontaneous abortions at 14-21 weeks (late abortions), according to the vital status of the fetus before the onset of labour. Late abortions included 62 involving a fetus alive before the onset of labour, 216 late abortions of a fetus already dead, together with 4592 control pregnancies at term (>/=37 weeks) from seven countries. Histories of induced abortion, spontaneous abortion and preterm birth were more closely associated with late abortion of a live fetus than with late abortion of a dead fetus. Women aged >/=35 years and women living alone had a much higher risk of late abortions than women aged 20-24 years and married women, regardless of the vital status of the fetus before labour. These results provide evidence that obstetric history and socio-demographic factors are risk factors for late abortions but differences are observed according to the vital status of the fetus before labour.
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Unité de Recherches Epidémiologiques en Santé Périnatale et Santé des Femmes (INSERM, Unité 149), 16 avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier 94807 Villejuif cedex, France.
Saurel-Cubizolles
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Di Renzo
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Papiernik
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Bréart
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D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007745:Labor Onset; D008423:Maternal Age; D008499:Medical Records; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D015406:Single Parent