1 week ago
Multiple Health Conditions Linked to Higher Pregnancy Complication Risks
Researchers studied more than 2.2 million pregnancies recorded from 2000 to 2022.
They looked at people who already had long-term physical or mental health conditions before becoming pregnant.
Those with several conditions had a higher chance of some pregnancy problems.
Their risk of miscarriage was about 20% higher.
They also had a higher chance of severe nausea and vomiting.
Anxiety and depression during pregnancy were nearly four times as common in this group.
The risk of blood clots and pre-eclampsia was also higher.
Each extra health condition could increase the risks further.
The researchers said healthcare teams should identify these patients early and connect physical and mental health services, but cautioned that routine records may not capture every condition consistently.
A study of more than 2.2 million pregnancies found multiple pre-existing conditions were linked to a 20% higher miscarriage risk.
Women with two or more long-term conditions faced a 69% higher risk of severe pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.
The same group had nearly four times the risk of antenatal anxiety and depression.
Multiple conditions were associated with more than double the risk of venous thromboembolism and a 42% higher pre-eclampsia risk.
Researchers called for earlier identification and integrated physical and mental healthcare, while noting some records may be incomplete.
- Who
- Researchers led by King's College London studied pregnant women with and without long-term physical or mental health conditions.
- What
- The study found that multiple pre-existing conditions were associated with higher risks of miscarriage and several pregnancy complications.
- Where
- The data came from five datasets covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- When
- The analysed pregnancies and birth events were recorded between 2000 and 2022.
- Why
- The researchers aimed to assess whether multiple long-term conditions should be recognised as an independent marker of antenatal risk and used in care planning.
Key facts
- Study journal
- The Lancet Public Health
- Sample
- More than 2.2 million pregnancies and birth events
- Miscarriage risk
- 20% higher among women with multiple long-term conditions
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- 69% higher risk among women with multiple long-term conditions
- Antenatal anxiety and depression
- Nearly four-fold higher risk among women with two or more conditions
- Venous thromboembolism
- More than double the risk among women with multiple long-term conditions; more than three-and-a-half times higher among those with three or more conditions
- Pre-eclampsia
- 42% higher risk among women with multiple long-term conditions
- Study limitation
- As an observational study using routinely collected records, some conditions and outcomes may have been under-recorded or recorded inconsistently
Quotes
Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar
Senior author and clinical professor of public health and health data science at King’s College London
“These findings make a strong case for recognising multiple long-term conditions as a marker of antenatal risk in its own right. That means identifying these women at maternity booking, assessing physical and mental health needs together, and joining up obstetric, primary care and mental health services around them.”
NDTV
“The near four-fold risk of antenatal anxiety and depression is particularly striking, and points to perinatal mental health support as an urgent priority.”
NDTV
Sources
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