Procedural abortion, provider-initiated preterm delivery and survival in pregnant people with cancer: A population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether procedural-induced abortion or provider-initiated preterm delivery are associated with improved survival in pregnant people with cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective population-based cohort study.

SETTING

Provinces of Alberta and Ontario, Canada, 2003-2016.

POPULATION: Females aged 18-50 years diagnosed with cancer at <20 weeks' (for the assessment of procedural-induced abortion) or <37 weeks' gestation (for the assessment of provider-initiated delivery).

METHODS

Cox proportional hazard models assessed all-cause mortality in relation to procedural-induced abortion and provider-initiated preterm delivery, adjusting for cancer site, stage at diagnosis and age. Meta-analysis pooled the results across both provinces.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All cause mortality.

RESULTS

There were 512 pregnant people diagnosed with cancer at <20 weeks' gestation and 782 diagnosed with cancer at <37 weeks' gestation. Neither procedural-induced abortion (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.39, 95% CI: 0.32-6.17) nor provider-initiated preterm delivery (aHR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.76-1.81) were associated with improved survival following adjustment for age, stage at diagnosis and cancer site.

CONCLUSIONS

Neither procedural-induced abortion nor provider-initiated preterm birth was associated with improved survival in pregnant people diagnosed with cancer; however, these obstetric interventions are highly personal decisions best decided by the pregnant person in consultation with their care providers.