Age-specific risk of fetal loss observed in a second trimester serum screening population.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate age-specific spontaneous fetal loss rates of pregnancies without known chromosomal or structural abnormalities from mid-second trimester onward.


METHODS
The study consisted of 264,653 women screened between October 1995 and September 2000 with available pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancies associated with fetal chromosomal or structural abnormalities, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and multiple pregnancies were excluded. Spontaneous fetal losses at or after 15 weeks of gestation were identified. Women were grouped according to maternal age at expected date of delivery. Spontaneous fetal loss rates in each group were evaluated after adjusting fetal losses associated with amniocentesis and identifiable ethnic groups.


RESULTS
Fetal loss rates increased in both younger and older women. The lowest rate was seen in women at mid-20s. Compared with Caucasian and Asian women, black women had higher fetal loss rate at nearly every age group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study provided a baseline age-specific spontaneous fetal loss rate of pregnancies at a specified gestational window.
Wyatt
Philip R
PR
Ontario Maternal Serum Screening Database, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pwyatt@nygh.on.ca
Owolabi
Titus
T
Meier
Chris
C
Huang
Tianhua
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D044383:Black People; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors