Risk of adverse birth outcome and miscarriage in pregnant users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: population based observational study and case-control study

Objective To estimate th risk of adverse birth outcome in women who take no n-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy. Design and setting Population based cohort study and a case-control study, both based on data from a prescription registry, the Danish birth registry, and cone country's hospital discharge registry. Participants Cohort study: 1462 pregnant women who had taken up prescriptio ns for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the period from 30 days bef ore conception to birth and 17 259 pregnant women who were not prescribed a ny drugs during pregnancy. Case-control study: 4268 women who had miscarria ges, of whom 63 had taken non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 29 750 primiparous controls who had live births. Main outcome measures Incidences of congenital abnormality, low birth weigh t, preterm birth, and miscarriage. Results Odds ratios for congenital abnormality, low birth weight, and prete rm birth among women who took up prescriptions for no-steroidal anti-inflam matory drugs were 1.27 (95% confidence integral 0.93 to 1.75 (0.79 (0.45 to 1.38), and 1.05 (0.80 to 1.39) respectively. Odds ratios for the taking up of prescriptions in the weeks before miscarriage ranged from 6.99 (2.75 to 17.74) when prescriptions were taken up during the last week before the mi scarriage to 2.69 (1.81 to 4.00) when taken up between 7 and 9 weeks before . The risk estimates were no different when the analysis was restricted to missed abortions. Conclusions Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy d oes not seem of increase the risk of adverse birth outcome but is associate d wit increased risk of miscarriage.