RISK FACTOR FOR FIRST TRIMESETER MISCARRIAGE: QUESTIONNAIRE BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background and Aim: Miscarriage is defined as an abortion that occurs spontaneously without the use of a medical or mechanical method to terminate the pregnancy before viability and is the most prevalent complications in early pregnancy. The present study aimed to examine various risk factors associated with first trimester miscarriage.

Patients and Methods: This questionnaire based observational study was carried out on 383 pregnant patients presented with 1^st trimester miscarriage to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatima hospital Gadap Karachi, Baqai Medical University from January 2022 to December 2022. Data was extracted from the Hospital Information System. Variables such as age, parity, consanguinity, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroid, history of drug intake, history of polycystic ovary syndrome, viral infection, multiple gestation, uterine anomaly, and history of recurrent miscarriage were recorded. Descriptive statistics were done in SPSS version 23.

Results:  The overall mean age was 42.68±8.4 years. Patients were distributed based on their age: 128 (33.4%) in 35-40 years, 245 (64%) in 41-45 years, and 10 (2.6%) in >45 years. All the patients were categorized into three groups based on their body mass index as follows: underweight 18 (4.7%), normal 192 (50.1%), and obese 173 (45.2%). About 255 (66.6%) patients had a history of PCO whereas comorbidities such as hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and hypothyroid was found in 90 (23.5%), 45 (11.7%), and 17 (4.4%) respectively. Viral infection (measles), multiple gestation, molar pregnancy, uterine anomaly, and recurrent miscarriage were different risk factors for first trimester miscarriage found in 2 (0.5%), 127 (33.2%), 8 (2.1%), 3 (0.8%), and 109 (28.5%) respectively.

Conclusion: The present study found that multiple pregnancy, increased BMI, and recurrent miscarriage were all risk factors for first trimester miscarriage. All of these factors must be considered while delivering prenatal care to mother's in order to reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Keywords: Miscarriage, Risk factors, first trimester pregnancy