Home / Health / Ectopic Pregnancies Rise: Older Mothers, Deprivation Linked
Ectopic Pregnancies Rise: Older Mothers, Deprivation Linked
30 Jul
Summary
- Ectopic pregnancy admissions in England have risen significantly since 2021.
- Older maternal age and deprivation are linked to increased hospital admissions.
- Deprived areas show over twice the admission rates for ectopic pregnancies.
Hospital admissions for ectopic pregnancies in England have shown a substantial increase, with annual rises averaging over 4% since 2021, following a period of stability. University of Liverpool researchers published findings in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, highlighting older maternal age as a potential contributing factor to this recent surge.
The study also revealed stark inequalities, indicating that women in England's most deprived areas consistently experience higher rates of admission for ectopic pregnancies. This disparity is linked to factors like higher rates of smoking and obesity, and reduced access to early maternity care.
Between 2013 and 2024, women aged 25 to 34 accounted for the majority of these admissions. Admissions among women aged 40 and over rose from approximately 7% to 12% during this period, aligning with a national trend of delayed childbearing.
Concurrently, hospital admissions for miscarriage saw a decline between 2018 and 2021, with a modest rise suggested after 2021. Contributing factors may include COVID-19 infections and changes in care during the pandemic, alongside increasing maternal age, obesity, and environmental changes.
Researchers concluded that women from the most deprived areas consistently had more than double the hospital admissions for both miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy compared to those from less deprived areas. These areas showed higher percentages of smoking and obesity.
