Pregnancy-Related Mortality in the United States, 1998 to 2005

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Abstract

To estimate the risk of women dying from pregnancy complications in the United States and to examine the risk factors for and changes in the medical causes of these deaths. De-identified copies of death certificates for women who died during or within 1 year of pregnancy and matching birth or fetal death certificates for 1998 through 2005 were received by the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System from the 50 states, New York City, and Washington, DC. Causes of death and factors associated with them were identified, and pregnancy-related mortality ratios (pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births) were calculated. The aggregate pregnancy-related mortality ratio for the 8-year period was 14.5 per 100,000 live births, which is higher than any period in the previous 20 years of the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. African-American women continued to have a three- to four-fold higher risk of pregnancy-related death. The proportion of deaths attributable to hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders declined from previous years, whereas the proportion from medical conditions, particularly cardiovascular, increased. Seven causes of death--hemorrhage, thrombotic pulmonary embolism, infection, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular conditions, and noncardiovascular medical conditions--each contributed 10% to 13% of deaths. The reasons for the reported increase in pregnancy-related mortality are unclear; possible factors include an increase in the risk of women dying, changed coding with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, and the addition by states of pregnancy checkboxes to the death certificate. State-based maternal death reviews and maternal quality collaboratives have the potential to identify deaths, review the factors associated with them, and take action on the findings.

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Trends in postpartum hemorrhage: United States, 1994-2006.

William Callaghan, Elena V. Kuklina, Cynthia Berg (2010)

The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in the United States and to assess trends. Population-based data from the 1994-2006 National Inpatient Sample were used to identify women who were hospitalized with postpartum hemorrhage. Data for each year were plotted, and trends were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used in an attempt to explain the difference in PPH incidence between 1994 and 2006. PPH increased 26% between 1994 and 2006 from 2.3% (n = 85,954) to 2.9% (n = 124,708; P < .001). The increase primarily was due to an increase in uterine atony, from 1.6% (n = 58,597) to 2.4% (n = 99,904; P < .001). The increase in PPH could not be explained by changes in rates of cesarean delivery, vaginal birth after cesarean delivery, maternal age, multiple birth, hypertension, or diabetes mellitus. Population-based surveillance data signal an apparent increase in PPH caused by uterine atony. More nuanced clinical data are needed to understand the factors that are associated with this trend. Published by Mosby, Inc.

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Preventability of pregnancy-related deaths: results of a state-wide review.

Ronella Hage, Holli Harper, D Berg … (2005)

Although the risk of death from complications of pregnancy in the 20th century has decreased dramatically, several lines of evidence suggest that it has not reached an irreducible minimum. To further reduce pregnancy-related mortality, we must understand which deaths are potentially preventable and the changes needed to prevent them. We sought to identify all pregnancy-related deaths in North Carolina and conduct a comprehensive review examining ways in which the number of these deaths could potentially be reduced. The North Carolina Pregnancy-Related Mortality Review Committee reviewed all of the 108 pregnancy-related deaths (women who died during or within 1 year of the end of pregnancy from a complication of pregnancy or its treatment) that occurred in the state in 1995-1999. For each death, the committee determined the cause of death, whether it could have been prevented, and if so, the means by which it might have been prevented. Although overall, 40% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable, this varied by the cause of death. Almost all deaths due to hemorrhage and complications of chronic diseases were believed to be potentially preventable, whereas none of the deaths due to amniotic fluid embolus, microangiopathic hemolytic syndrome, and cerebrovascular accident were considered preventable. Improved quality of medical care was considered to be the most important factor in preventing these deaths. Among African-American women, 46% of deaths were potentially preventable, compared with 33% of the deaths among white women. Despite the decline in pregnancy-related mortality rates, almost one half of these deaths could potentially be prevented, mainly through improved quality of medical care. In-depth review of pregnancy-related deaths can help determine strategies needed to continue making pregnancy safer.

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Investigation of an increase in postpartum haemorrhage in Canada.

J. Rouleau, , Thomas F Baskett … (2007)

To investigate the cause of a recent increase in hysterectomies for postpartum haemorrhage in Canada. Retrospective cohort study. Canada between 1991 and 2004. All hospital deliveries in Canada as documented in the database of the Canadian Institute for Health Information (excluding incomplete data from Quebec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia). Deliveries with postpartum haemorrhage by subtype were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes, while hysterectomies were identified using procedure codes. Changes in determinants of postpartum haemorrhage (all postpartum haemorrhage and that requiring hysterectomy) were examined, and crude and adjusted period changes were assessed using logistic models. Postpartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage with hysterectomy, postpartum haemorrhage with blood transfusion and postpartum haemorrhage by subtype. Rates of postpartum haemorrhage increased from 4.1% in 1991 to 5.1% in 2004 (23% increase, 95% CI 20-26%), while rates of postpartum haemorrhage with hysterectomy increased from 24.0 in 1991 to 41.7 per 100,000 deliveries in 2004 (73% increase, 95% CI 27-137%). These increases were because of an increase in atonic postpartum haemorrhage, from 29.4 per 1000 deliveries in 1991 to 39.5 per 1000 deliveries in 2004 (34% increase, 95% CI 31-38%). Adjustment for temporal changes in risk factors did not explain the increase in atonic postpartum haemorrhage but attenuated the increase in atonic postpartum haemorrhage with hysterectomy. There has been a recent, unexplained increase in the frequency, and possibly the severity, of atonic postpartum haemorrhage in Canada.