#1 Cause of Death, Heart Disease, Linked to Abortion, New Study Confirms
News Release — 3/18/2024
Abortion increases the risk of cardiovascular disease according to a new study of over one million Medicaid patients.1 The increased risk varies from 16% to 267% within the first six months of a first live birth depending on the number of abortions women had previously undergone. Similar elevated rates of cardiovascular disease were also linked to natural losses, including miscarriage.
A previous study using the same data set found the elevated risks of cardiovascular disease following pregnancy loss of any type, induced or natural, persist for at least twelve years.2
These findings are among a growing body of medical literature linking abortion to reduced cardiovascular health, the leading cause of death among women. Among these is yet another study which revealed over a fivefold increased risk of death from cerebrovascular diseases within six years of an induced abortion.3
“Abortion is an independent and avoidable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases,” said David Reardon, one of the study’s authors. “The American Heart Association is already warning women of the link between miscarriage and heart disease. It is our hope that they will extend this warning to include abortions.”4
References
1. Tsulukidze M, Reardon DC, Craver C. Effects of prior reproductive losses on risk of cardiovascular diseases within six months of a first live birth. International Journal of Cardiology Cardiovascular Risk and Prevention. Published online March 13, 2024:200260. doi:10.1016/J.IJCRP.2024.200260
2. Tsulukidze M, Reardon D, Craver C. Elevated cardiovascular disease risk in low-income women with a history of pregnancy loss. Open Heart. 2022;9(1):e002035. doi:10.1136/openhrt-2022-002035
3. Reardon DC, Ney PG, Scheuren F, Cougle J, Coleman PK, Strahan TW. Deaths associated with pregnancy outcome: A record linkage study of low income women. South Med J. 2002;95(8):834-841. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036333844&partnerID=40&md5=4d1c63d60d483ca61961a0060c1bf63c
4. Parikh NI, Gonzalez JM, Anderson CAM, et al. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Unique Opportunities for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021;143(18):E902-E916. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000961
