Alcohol Use in Pregnancy and Miscarriage: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Research article
Abstract
Objective
To systematically review and critically evaluate studies reporting alcohol exposure during pregnancy and miscarriage.
Method
The researchers searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and ProQuest Theses for publications from January 1970 to January 2019. The researchers identified studies about alcohol exposure during pregnancy and miscarriage. Information about study population, alcohol exposure assessment, outcome definition, covariates, and measures of association was collected. The researchers assessed study quality using an adapted Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. Data were abstracted by 2 investigators independently. The present study conducted a random‐effects meta‐analysis to calculate the association between alcohol exposure and miscarriage risk and performed subgroup analyses to determine robustness of results to study differences. For studies reporting dose‐specific effects, a pooled dose–response association was estimated using generalized least squares regression with and without restricted cubic spline terms for number of drinks consumed per week.
Results
Of 2,164 articles identified, 24 were eligible for inclusion. Meta‐analysis of data from 231,808 pregnant women finds those exposed to alcohol during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage compared to those who abstained. Estimates did not vary by study design, study country, or method of alcohol ascertainment. For alcohol use of 5 or fewer units per week, each additional unit per week was associated with a 6% increase in miscarriage risk.
Conclusions
Common study limitations reflect challenges inherent to this research, including difficulty recruiting participants early enough in pregnancy to observe miscarriage and collecting and quantifying information about alcohol consumption during pregnancy that accurately reflects use. This review provides evidence that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with a dose‐mediated increase in miscarriage risk. Future studies evaluating change in alcohol use in pregnancy are needed to provide insight into how alcohol consumption prior to pregnancy recognition impacts risk.
