Miscarriage May Increase Heart Disease Risk
Researchers Study Scottish Birth, Death Records
POSTED: 2:19 p.m. EST February 21, 2003
Email
Print
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.
Visit Our Special SectionDistributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
