Published 20 August 2026.
New research, led by King’s College London, has found that women who begin pregnancy with two or more pre-existing long-term physical or mental health conditions have a 20% higher risk of miscarriage than those without long-term conditions.
The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, analysed more than 2.2 million pregnancies and antenatal outcomes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2000 and 2022. It is the largest study of its kind and found that risks increased as the number of long-term conditions increased.
The research also found that women with multiple long-term conditions faced increased risks of a number of other pregnancy complications, including severe nausea and vomiting, pre-eclampsia, placental abruption and gestational diabetes. They were also around four times more likely to experience anxiety and depression during pregnancy.
Professor Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, Clinical Professor of Public Health and Health Data Science at King’s College London, MuM-PreDiCT principal investigator and joint senior author, added:
“These findings make a strong case for recognising multiple long-term conditions as a marker of antenatal risk in its own right. That means identifying these women at maternity booking, assessing physical and mental health needs together, and joining up obstetric, primary care and mental health services around them. The near four-fold risk of antenatal anxiety and depression is particularly striking, and points to perinatal mental health support as an urgent priority.”
At Miscarriage UK, we welcome research that helps us better understand the factors that can affect pregnancy outcomes. It also reinforces the importance of joined-up care that recognises the individual needs of each person throughout their pregnancy.
Our own research, published earlier this year, found significant variation in experiences of pregnancy loss, including inconsistent access to specialist services, information and follow-up care.
While this study provides important evidence about the increased risks faced by women with multiple long-term conditions, the researchers note that further work is needed to understand which combinations of conditions carry the greatest risk and how care can be improved. Miscarriage UK is calling for this research to include miscarriage and the support people need following pre-24-week pregnancy loss.
Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive of Miscarriage UK, said:
“This research highlights the importance of understanding the whole person and providing care that reflects their individual circumstances. For people living with multiple long-term conditions, more support and joined-up care is needed to help them navigate pregnancy and understand the risks they may face.
“It also highlights the need for more research into pregnancy loss. We need to better understand the relationship between long-term health conditions and miscarriage, and what support and interventions can improve outcomes for those at greater risk.
“As national maternity improvements take shape, it is essential that pregnancy loss does not slip through the gaps. The full pregnancy journey must be reflected in future research, policy and care pathways, including what happens when a pregnancy ends in loss. Everyone deserves timely, compassionate and appropriate support, whatever their circumstances.”
The findings come at an important time for maternity care in the UK, following the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation and the development of plans to improve safety, quality and experiences across maternity services.
At Miscarriage UK, we believe these improvements must include people experiencing pregnancy loss and early pregnancy complications. Care should be joined up across services, with clear pathways for assessment, treatment and follow-up, and with the individual needs of each person at the centre.
Our support services are available for anyone who needs them. Call our support line on 0303 003 6464, email [email protected] or start a live chat on our website using the orange ‘chat with our support team’ button.