The seven-year epidemiological study of legal abortion caused by heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes and hypertension as referred to forensic medicine centers in Fars Province

Background
Chronic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes, some types of heart disease, and hypertension are of the most common risk factors for high risk pregnancies and spontaneous or therapeutic abortions.

Objectives
To investigate the legal abortion caused by heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes and hypertension as referred to forensic medicine centers in Fars Province from 2007 to 2013.

Material and methods
In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, samples consisted of all documents of people referred to forensic medicine centers in Shiraz since 2007 to 2013, comprising of 1664 files. Data collection tools included a demographic forum and the checklist of abortion causes. SPSS.16.0 was applied to analyze the data through descriptive statistical analysis.

Results
The most frequent age group was 25–29 years at 31.5% (n = 522) and the lowest was over 40 years old at 4.15% (n = 70). The statistical report of the reasons for legal abortion permission were 19% (n = 63), 24.4% (n = 81), 10.54% (n = 35), and 8.13% (n = 27) due to heart problems, blood disorders, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, respectively. Most frequent legal abortion permits by forensic medicine due to maternal causes were between the years of 2011–2012 at 17.8–28% (n = 59–93). The relationship between legal abortion permission at The Forensic Medicine Center at different years and maternal ages was statistically significant (p < 0.00001).

Conclusions
The most common prevalent reason of abortion was Blood Disorder – 81 patients (24.4%) and heart disease – 63 cases (19%). It is essential that family education and prevention of repeated pregnancies be done with high-risk women. Also, initiation of pregnancy care at lower gestational age in identifying risky pregnancies and timely control of complications must also be undertaken.