Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 11, 2426-2432,
November 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Risk factors for 14–21 week abortions: a case-control study in Europe
1 Unité de Recherches Epidémiologiques en Santé Périnatale et Santé des Femmes (INSERM, Unité 149), 16 avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier 94807 Villejuif cedex, France, 2 Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy and 3 Université René Descartes, Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique de Port-Royal, 123 boulevard Port-Royal 75014 Paris, France
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.
Key words: case-control study/European survey/fetal status/late abortion/risk factors
* For details of members of Europop Group see appendix
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: INSERM Unité 149, 16 avenue Paul Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif cedex, France. E-mail: ancel{at}vjf.inserm.fr