Parental ancestry and risk of early pregnancy loss at high altitude

Abstract

High altitude pregnancy is associated with increased frequency of low birth weight infants and neonatal complications, the risks of which are higher in women of low-altitude ancestry. Does ancestry also influence the risk of miscarriage (pregnancy loss <20 weeks) in high-altitude pregnancy? To answer this, 5386 women from La Paz, Bolivia (3300-4150 m) with ≥1 live-born infant were identified. Data were extracted from medical records including maternal and paternal ancestry, demographic factors, and reproductive history. The risk of miscarriage by ancestry was assessed using multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for parity, and maternal age. Andean women experienced first live-births younger than Mestizo or European women (21.7 ± 4.6 vs 23.4 ± 8.0 vs 24.1 ± 5.1, P