-
NeoReviews Oct 2019The rising trend in pregnancy-related deaths during the past 2 decades in the United States stands out among other high-income countries where pregnancy-related deaths...
The rising trend in pregnancy-related deaths during the past 2 decades in the United States stands out among other high-income countries where pregnancy-related deaths are declining. Cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular conditions, hemorrhage, and other chronic medical conditions are all important causes of death. Unintentional death from violence, overdose, and self-harm are emerging causes that require medical and public health attention. Significant racial/ethnic inequities exist in pregnancy care with non-Hispanic black women incurring 3 to 4 times higher rates of pregnancy-related death than non-Hispanic white women. Varied terminology and lack of standardized methods for identifying maternal deaths in the United States have resulted in nuanced data collection and interpretation challenges. State maternal mortality review committees are important mechanisms for capturing and interpreting data on cause, timing, and preventability of maternal deaths. Importantly, a thorough standardized review of each maternal death leads to recommendations to prevent future pregnancy-associated deaths. Key interventions to improve maternal health outcomes include 1) integrating multidisciplinary care for women with high-risk comorbidities during preconception care, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond; 2) addressing structural racism and the social determinants of health; 3) implementing hospital-wide safety bundles with team training and simulation; 4) providing patient education on early warning signs for medical complications of pregnancy; and 5) regionalizing maternal levels of care so that women with risk factors are supported when delivering at facilities with specialized care teams.
Topics: Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Maternal Health Services; Maternal Mortality; United States
PubMed: 31575778
DOI: 10.1542/neo.20-10-e561 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology May 2021Rigorous studies carried out by the National Center for Health Statistics show that previously reported increases in maternal mortality rates in the United States were...
Rigorous studies carried out by the National Center for Health Statistics show that previously reported increases in maternal mortality rates in the United States were an artifact of changes in surveillance. The pregnancy checkbox, introduced in the revised 2003 death certificate and implemented by the states in a staggered manner, resulted in increased identification of maternal deaths and in reported maternal mortality rates. This Commentary summarizes the findings of the National Center for Health Statistics reports, describes temporal trends and the current status of maternal mortality in the United States, and discusses future concerns. Although the National Center for Health Statistics studies, based on recoding of death certificate information (after excluding information from the pregnancy checkbox), showed that crude maternal mortality rates did not change significantly between 2002 and 2018, age-adjusted analyses show a temporal reduction in the maternal mortality rate (21% decline, 95% CI 13-28). Specific causes of maternal death, which were not affected by the pregnancy checkbox, such as preeclampsia, showed substantial temporal declines. However, large racial disparities continue to exist: Non-Hispanic Black women had a 2.5-fold higher maternal mortality rate compared with non-Hispanic White women in 2018. This overview of maternal mortality underscores the need for better surveillance and more accurate identification of maternal deaths, improved clinical care, and expanded public health initiatives to address social determinants of health. Challenges with ascertaining maternal deaths notwithstanding, several causes of maternal death (unaffected by surveillance artifacts) show significant temporal declines, even though there remains substantial scope for preventing avoidable maternal death and reducing disparities.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Death Certificates; Female; Forecasting; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Maternal Mortality; Population Surveillance; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; United States; Young Adult
PubMed: 33831914
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004361 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Oct 2020Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity are urgent issues in the United States. It is important to establish priority areas to address these public health...
Maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity are urgent issues in the United States. It is important to establish priority areas to address these public health crises. On April 8, 2019, and May 2 to 3, 2019, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development organized and invited experts with varied perspectives to 2 meetings, a community engagement forum and a scientific workshop, to discuss underlying themes involved in the rising incidence of maternal mortality in the United States. Experts from diverse disciplines reviewed current data, ongoing activities, and identified research gaps focused on data measurement and reporting, obstetrical and health system factors, social determinants and disparities, and the community perspective and engagement. Key scientific opportunities to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity include improved data quality and measurement, understanding the populations affected as well as the numerous etiologies, clinical research to confirm preventive and interventional strategies, and engagement of community participation in research that will lead to the reduction of maternal mortality in the United States. This article provides a summary of the workshop presentations and discussions.
Topics: Black or African American; Community Participation; Female; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Maternal Mortality; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U.S.); Pregnancy; Research; Social Determinants of Health; United States; White People
PubMed: 32682858
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.07.021 -
JAMA Jul 2023Evidence suggests that maternal mortality has been increasing in the US. Comprehensive estimates do not exist. Long-term trends in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) for... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
IMPORTANCE
Evidence suggests that maternal mortality has been increasing in the US. Comprehensive estimates do not exist. Long-term trends in maternal mortality ratios (MMRs) for all states by racial and ethnic groups were estimated.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify trends in MMRs (maternal deaths per 100 000 live births) by state for 5 mutually exclusive racial and ethnic groups using a bayesian extension of the generalized linear model network.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Observational study using vital registration and census data from 1999 to 2019 in the US. Pregnant or recently pregnant individuals aged 10 to 54 years were included.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
MMRs.
RESULTS
In 2019, MMRs in most states were higher among American Indian and Alaska Native and Black populations than among Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander; Hispanic; and White populations. Between 1999 and 2019, observed median state MMRs increased from 14.0 (IQR, 5.7-23.9) to 49.2 (IQR, 14.4-88.0) among the American Indian and Alaska Native population, 26.7 (IQR, 18.3-32.9) to 55.4 (IQR, 31.6-74.5) among the Black population, 9.6 (IQR, 5.7-12.6) to 20.9 (IQR, 12.1-32.8) among the Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander population, 9.6 (IQR, 6.9-11.6) to 19.1 (IQR, 11.6-24.9) among the Hispanic population, and 9.4 (IQR, 7.4-11.4) to 26.3 (IQR, 20.3-33.3) among the White population. In each year between 1999 and 2019, the Black population had the highest median state MMR. The American Indian and Alaska Native population had the largest increases in median state MMRs between 1999 and 2019. Since 1999, the median of state MMRs has increased for all racial and ethnic groups in the US and the American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander; and Black populations each observed their highest median state MMRs in 2019.
CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE
While maternal mortality remains unacceptably high among all racial and ethnic groups in the US, American Indian and Alaska Native and Black individuals are at increased risk, particularly in several states where these inequities had not been previously highlighted. Median state MMRs for the American Indian and Alaska Native and Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander populations continue to increase, even after the adoption of a pregnancy checkbox on death certificates. Median state MMR for the Black population remains the highest in the US. Comprehensive mortality surveillance for all states via vital registration identifies states and racial and ethnic groups with the greatest potential to improve maternal mortality. Maternal mortality persists as a source of worsening disparities in many US states and prevention efforts during this study period appear to have had a limited impact in addressing this health crisis.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Bayes Theorem; Ethnicity; Maternal Mortality; Racial Groups; United States; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged
PubMed: 37395772
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.9043 -
Medicina 2020
Topics: Argentina; Female; Humans; Maternal Mortality
PubMed: 32282325
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Epidemiology May 2019Racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) are substantial, but little is known about whether these disparities are changing over time or the role of...
PURPOSE
Racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) are substantial, but little is known about whether these disparities are changing over time or the role of maternal and obstetric factors.
METHODS
We examined disparities in SMM prevalence and trends using linked birth certificate and delivery discharge records from Californian births during 1997-2014 (n = 8,252,025).
RESULTS
The prevalence of SMM was highest in non-Hispanic (NH) Black women (1.63%), lowest in NH White women (0.84%), and increased from 1997 to 2014 by approximately 170% in each racial/ethnic group. The magnitude of SMM disparities remained consistent over time. Compared with NH White women, the adjusted risk of SMM was higher in women who identified as Hispanic (RR 1.14; 95% CI 1.12, 1.16), Asian/Pacific Islander (RR 1.23; 95% CI 1.20, 1.26), NH Black (RR 1.27; 95% CI 1.23, 1.31), and American Indian/Alaska Native (RR 1.29; 95% CI 1.15, 1.44), accounting for comorbidities, anemia, cesarean birth, and other maternal characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of SMM varied considerably by race/ethnicity but increased at similarly high rates among all racial/ethnic groups. Comorbidities, cesarean birth, and other factors did not fully explain the disparities in SMM, which remained persistent over time.
Topics: Adult; Black or African American; Black People; California; Cohort Studies; Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Maternal Health; Maternal Mortality; Minority Health; Pregnancy; Prevalence; White People; Young Adult
PubMed: 30928320
DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2019.02.007 -
Obstetrics and Gynecology Apr 2020To synthesize the literature on associations between social determinants of health and pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity in the United States and to highlight...
OBJECTIVE
To synthesize the literature on associations between social determinants of health and pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity in the United States and to highlight opportunities for intervention and future research.
DATA SOURCES
We performed a systematic search using Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Popline, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov (1990-2018) using MeSH terms related to maternal mortality, morbidity, and social determinants of health, and limited to the United States.
METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION
Selection criteria included studies examining associations between social determinants and adverse maternal outcomes including pregnancy-related death, severe maternal morbidity, and emergency hospitalizations or readmissions. Using Covidence, three authors screened abstracts and two screened full articles for inclusion.
TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS
Two authors extracted data from each article and the data were analyzed using a descriptive approach. A total of 83 studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Seventy-eight of 83 studies examined socioeconomic position or individual factors as predictors, demonstrating evidence of associations between minority race and ethnicity (58/67 studies with positive findings), public or no insurance coverage (21/30), and lower education levels (8/12), and increased incidence of maternal death and severe maternal morbidity. Only 2 of 83 studies investigated associations between these outcomes and socioeconomic, political, and cultural context (eg, public policy), and 20 of 83 studies investigated material and physical circumstances (eg, neighborhood environment, segregation), limiting the diversity of social determinants of health studied as well as evaluation of such evidence.
CONCLUSION
Empirical studies provide evidence for the role of race and ethnicity, insurance, and education in pregnancy-related mortality and severe maternal morbidity risk, although many other important social determinants, including mechanisms of effect, remain to be studied in greater depth.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, CRD42018102415.
Topics: Female; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy; Social Determinants of Health; United States
PubMed: 32168209
DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003762 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Oct 2011
Topics: Female; Humans; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy
PubMed: 22083050
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.07.045 -
Cardiovascular Journal of Africa 2011
Topics: Cause of Death; Developing Countries; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Maternal Health Services; Maternal Mortality; Maternal Welfare; Models, Theoretical; Pregnancy; Time Factors
PubMed: 21298198
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Jun 2017The prevalence of medical problems in pregnancy is increasing because of a complex interplay between demographic and lifestyle factors, and developments in modern... (Review)
Review
The prevalence of medical problems in pregnancy is increasing because of a complex interplay between demographic and lifestyle factors, and developments in modern medicine. Maternal mortality and morbidity resulting from treatable medical conditions, such as venous thromboembolism, epilepsy and autoimmune disease, have not decreased in recent years. This is despite a marked decrease in overall maternal mortality. It is vital that all physicians acquire a basic knowledge and understanding of medical problems in pregnancy. This includes prepregnancy measures such as counselling and optimisation of medical therapy, as well as multidisciplinary management throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Prompt recognition and treatment of acute and chronic illness is of clear benefit, and most drugs and many radiological investigations may be used in pregnancy.
Topics: Female; Humans; Maternal Mortality; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications
PubMed: 28572227
DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.17-3-251