Study reveals increased risks of premature mortality associated with both spontaneous and induced abortions

A recent study published in Health Data Science reveals that both spontaneous and induced abortions are associated with an increased risk of premature mortality, with induced abortions particularly linked to cardiovascular death.

The research, led by Dr. Shaohua Yin from the Department of Medical Engineering at Peking University Third Hospital and Dr. Keyi Si from the Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, utilized data from the UK Biobank to explore these associations.

Understanding the impact of reproductive factors on women’s health is crucial, particularly in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for a significant proportion of premature deaths worldwide. While well-known factors such as smoking, obesity, and lack of physical activity have been extensively studied, the effects of spontaneous and induced abortions on premature mortality have been less clear.

Dr. Shaohua Yin, alongside Dr. Keyi Si and their colleagues, conducted a comprehensive study using data from over 225,000 women aged 39 to 71 from the UK Biobank, classifying them based on their history of spontaneous abortion, induced abortion, both, or neither.

The study focused on determining all-cause and cause-specific premature mortality risks before the age of 70. The findings revealed that both spontaneous and induced abortions were linked to an elevated risk of all-cause premature mortality, with induced abortions particularly associated with increased risks of cardiovascular death.

“Our study shows that both spontaneous and induced abortions are linked to a higher risk of premature mortality,” said Dr. Shaohua Yin. “This is particularly evident for induced abortions, which are strongly associated with cardiovascular death. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health strategies and further research to understand the underlying mechanisms driving these associations.”

The study found that among women with a history of spontaneous abortion alone, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for all-cause premature mortality was 1.10. For those with induced abortion alone, the aHR was 1.12 for all-cause mortality and 1.27 for cardiovascular mortality. The risks were notably higher among women who had experienced multiple abortions, especially those with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

These findings underscore the importance of addressing reproductive factors in women’s health to reduce premature mortality. Future studies are needed to delve deeper into the specific reasons for induced and spontaneous abortions and explore potential biological and socio-economic mechanisms that might contribute to these risks.

Dr. Keyi Si added, “Understanding these underlying factors is crucial for informing health care policies and strategies aimed at mitigating abortion-related health risks.”

Looking ahead, the research team plans to further investigate the biological and behavioral factors that may influence the association between abortion types and premature mortality. Their ultimate goal is to provide evidence-based recommendations to improve women’s health outcomes.

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Health Data Science