Risk factors for 14-21 week abortions:: a case-control study in Europe

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 (greater than or equal to 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 greater than or equal to 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.