For the first time, a specific link has been found between miscarriage and risk of heart disease in later life, according to a study published in this week's issue of the
British Medical Journal.
The research team analyzed national data on births in Scotland from 1981 to 1985 and deaths or hospital admissions due to heart disease from 1981 to 1999.
They found that women with a history of spontaneous loss of early pregnancy -- or miscarriage -- were at increased risk of heart disease. By contrast, there was no association between therapeutic abortion and later heart disease risk.
The researchers said further studies are required to confirm that the association is independent of smoking and other factors, such as maternal disease, like diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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