Significant Association of History of Miscarriage with Obesity Among Indian Women of Childbearing Age

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to understand the effect of history of miscarriage and still birth on the risk for cardio-metabolic risk factors among women from an endogamous population after controlling for potential confounders. A total of 562 premenopausal women (out of a total of 1014 women) were considered for the present cross sectional study. They were categorized into three groups based on their reproductive history that is as those with miscarriages, still birth and controls (women with successful pregnancy without any complications). Somatometric measurements, biochemical profiles and blood pressure were measured using standard techniques. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that women with history of miscarriages had two fold significantly increased risk for overweight/abdominal obesity after controlling for potential confounder. It becomes equitable to argue that women with history of miscarriage have an increased risk for cardio-metabolic risk factors later in life. Therefore, utilization of adverse pregnancy outcome as an early intervention marker is needed to mitigate the further escalation of cardiovascular diseases later in life that may occur due to age or menopause.

Keywords

• Pregnancy
• Miscarriages
• Obesity
• Still birth
• Premenopausal