Uterus and cervix anatomical changes and cervix stiffness evolution throughout pregnancy.

The coordinated biomechanical performance, such as uterine stretch and cervical barrier function, within maternal reproductive tissues facilitates healthy human pregnancy and birth. Quantifying normal biomechanical function and detecting potentially detrimental biomechanical dysfunction (e.g., cervical insufficiency, uterine overdistention, premature rupture of membranes) is difficult, largely due to minimal data on the shape and size of maternal anatomy and material properties of tissue across gestation. This study quantitates key structural features of human pregnancy to fill this knowledge gap and facilitate three-dimensional modeling for biomechanical pregnancy simulations to deeply explore pregnancy and childbirth. These measurements include the longitudinal assessment of uterine and cervical dimensions, fetal weight, and cervical stiffness in 47 low-risk pregnancies at four time points during gestation (late first, middle second, late second, and middle third trimesters). The uterine and cervical size were measured via 2-dimensional ultrasound, and cervical stiffness was measured via cervical aspiration. Trends in uterine and cervical measurements were assessed as time-course slopes across pregnancy and between gestational time points, accounting for specific participants. Patient-specific computational solid models of the uterus and cervix, generated from the ultrasonic measurements, were used to estimate deformed uterocervical volume. Results show that for this low-risk cohort, the uterus grows fastest in the inferior-superior direction from the late first to middle second trimester and fastest in the anterior-posterior and left-right direction between the middle and late second trimester. Contemporaneously, the cervix softens and shortens. It softens fastest from the late first to the middle second trimester and shortens fastest between the late second and middle third trimester. Alongside the fetal weight estimated from ultrasonic measurements, this work presents holistic maternal and fetal patient-specific biomechanical measurements across gestation.

Pregnancy Outcomes in Women Who Developed Elevated Blood Pressure and Stage I Hypertension after 20 Weeks Gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The American College of Obstetrics threshold for hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg) differs from those of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). It is unknown if ACC/AHA hypertension levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) after 20 weeks gestation. The purpose of this study is to analyze APOs in women with blood pressure (BP) in the elevated or stage 1 range after 20 weeks gestation. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of the nuMoM2b prospective cohort study of 10,038 nulliparous, singleton pregnancies between 2010 and 2014. BP was measured at three visits during the pregnancy using a standard protocol. Women without medical comorbidities, with normal BP by ACC/AHA guidelines (systolic BP [SBP] < 120 and diastolic BP [DBP] < 80 mm Hg) up to 22 weeks, were included. Exposure was BP between 22 and 29 weeks gestation: normal (SBP < 120 and DBP < 80 mm Hg), elevated (SBP: 120-129 and DBP < 80 mm Hg), and stage 1 (SBP: 130-139 or DBP: 80-89 mm Hg). The primary outcome was hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) at delivery. Secondary outcomes included fetal growth restriction (FGR), placental abruption, preterm delivery, and cesarean delivery. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of 4,460 patients that met inclusion criteria, 3,832 (85.9%) had BP in the normal range, 408 (9.1%) in elevated, and 220 (4.9%) in stage 1 range between 22 and 29 weeks. The likelihood of HDP was significantly higher in women with elevated BP (aOR 1.71, 95%CI: 1.18,2.48), and stage 1 BP (aOR: 2.79, 95%CI: 1.84,4.23) compared to normal BP (p < 0.001). Stage 1 BP had twice odds of FGR (aOR: 2.33, 95%CI: 1.22,4.47) and elevated BP had three times odds of placental abruption (aOR: 3.03; 95%CI: 1.24,7.39). CONCLUSION: Elevated or stage 1 BP >20 weeks of pregnancy are associated with HDP, FGR, and placental abruption. KEY POINTS: · Elevated and stage 1 BP increases risk for HDP.. · Elevated BP increases risk for placental abruption.. · Stage 1 BP increases risk for FGR..

Primary and Secondary Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Young Adults by SMASH-UP Criteria.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a major cause of maternal morbidity, but its pathophysiology is poorly characterized. We investigated characteristics of pregnancy-associated ICH (P-ICH), compared with ICH in similar aged nonpregnant adults of both sexes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 134 adults aged 18 to 44 years admitted to our center with nontraumatic ICH from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. We compared ICH characteristics among 3 groups: those with P-ICH (pregnant or within 12 months of end of pregnancy); nonpregnant women; and men. We categorized ICH pathogenesis according to a modified scheme, SMASH-UP (structural, medications, amyloid angiopathy, systemic, hypertension, undetermined, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome/reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome), and calculated odds ratios and 95% CIs for primary (spontaneous small-vessel) ICH versus secondary ICH (structural lesions or coagulopathy related), using nonpregnant women as the reference. We also compared specific ICH pathogenesis by SMASH-UP criteria and functional outcomes between groups. Of 134 young adults with nontraumatic ICH, 25 (19%) had P-ICH, of which 60% occurred postpartum. Those with P-ICH had higher odds of primary ICH compared with nonpregnant women (adjusted odds ratio, 4.5 [95% CI, 1.4-14.7]). The odds of primary ICH did not differ between men and nonpregnant women. SMASH-UP pathogenesis for ICH differed significantly between groups (P<0.001). While the in-hospital mortality rate was lowest in the P-ICH group (4%) compared with nonpregnant women (13%) and men (24%), 1 in 4 patients with P-ICH were bedbound and dependent at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of young adults with ICH, 1 in 5 was pregnancy related. P-ICH differed in pathogenesis compared with non-pregnancy-related ICH in young adults, suggesting unique pathophysiology.

Adverse delivery hospitalisation outcomes in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk for adverse obstetric outcomes associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period and with COVID-19 diagnoses. DESIGN: Serial cross-sectional study. SETTING: A national sample of US delivery hospitalisations before (1/2016 to 2/2020) and during the first 10 months of (3/2020 to 12/2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. POPULATION: All 2016-2020 US delivery hospitalisations in the National Inpatient Sample. METHODS: Delivery hospitalisations were identified and stratified into pre-pandemic and pandemic periods and the likelihood of adverse obstetric outcomes was compared using logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) as measures of association. Risk for adverse outcomes was also analysed specifically for 2020 deliveries with a COVID-19 diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adverse maternal outcomes including respiratory complications and cardiac morbidity. RESULTS: Of an estimated 18.2 million deliveries, 2.9 million occurred during the pandemic. The proportion of delivery hospitalisations with a COVID-19 diagnosis increased from 0.1% in March 2020 to 3.1% in December. Comparing the pandemic period to the pre-pandemic period, there were higher adjusted odds of transfusion (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19), a respiratory complication composite (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.29-1.46), cardiac severe maternal morbidity (aOR 1.30, 95% 1.20-1.39), postpartum haemorrhage (aOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.15-1.24), placental abruption/antepartum haemorrhage (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.08), and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.21-1.26). These associations were similar to unadjusted analysis. Risk for these outcomes during the pandemic period was significantly higher in the presence of a COVID-19 diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In a national estimate of delivery hospitalisations, the odds of cardiac and respiratory outcomes were higher in 2020 compared with 2016-2019. COVID-19 diagnoses were specifically associated with a range of serious complications.

Trends in and outcomes of delivery hospitalizations with lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess trends and outcomes associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) during US delivery hospitalizations. STUDY DESIGN: The National Inpatient Sample from 2000 to 2019 was used for this repeated cross-sectional analysis. We identified delivery hospitalizations with and without SLE. Temporal trends in SLE during delivery hospitalizations were determined using joinpoint regression. Adjusted logistic regression models accounting for demographic, clinical, and hospital factors were used to determine adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for adverse outcomes based on the presence or absence of SLE. RESULTS: Of an estimated 76 698 775 delivery hospitalizations identified in the NIS, 79386 (0.10%) had an associated diagnosis of SLE. Over the study period, SLE increased from 6.7 to 14.6 cases per 10 000 delivery hospitalizations (average annual percent change 4.5%, 95% CI 4.0-5.1). Deliveries with SLE had greater odds of non-transfusion severe morbidity (aOR 2.21, 95% CI 2.00, 2.44) and underwent a larger absolute increase in morbidity risk over the study period. SLE was associated with a range of other adverse outcomes including preterm delivery, eclampsia, cesarean delivery, and blood transfusion. CONCLUSION: The proportion of deliveries to women with SLE has increased over time in the US, and SLE and APS are associated with a broad range of adverse outcomes.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy delivery hospitalization and postpartum readmission trends, risk factors, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk for peripartum cardiomyopathy during delivery and postpartum hospitalizations, and analyze associated trends, risk factors, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: The 2010-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used for this retrospective cohort study. Delivery hospitalizations along with postpartum readmissions occurring within five months of delivery discharge were analyzed. Risk factors associated with peripartum cardiomyopathy were analyzed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with odds ratios as measures of effect. Risk for severe adverse outcomes associated with peripartum cardiomyopathy was analyzed. Trends were analyzed with joinpoint regression. RESULTS: Of 39,790,772 delivery hospitalizations identified, 9,210 were complicated by a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (2.3 per 10,000). Risk for a 5-month readmission with a peripartum cardiomyopathy diagnosis was 4.8 per 10,000. Factors associated with peripartum cardiomyopathy during deliveries included preeclampsia with severe features (OR 18.9, 95 % CI 17.2, 20.7), preeclampsia without severe features (OR 6.9, 95 % CI 6.1, 7.8), multiple gestation (OR 4.7, 95 % CI 4.1, 5.3), chronic hypertension (OR 10.1, 95 % CI 8.9, 11.3), and older maternal age. Associations were attenuated but retained significance in adjusted models. Similar estimates were found when evaluating associations with postpartum readmissions. Peripartum cardiomyopathy readmissions were associated with 10 % of overall postpartum deaths, 21 % of cardiac arrest/ventricular fibrillation diagnoses, 18 % of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cases, and 40 % of cardiogenic shock. In joinpoint analysis, peripartum cardiomyopathy increased significantly during delivery hospitalizations (average annual percent change [AAPC] 2.2 %, 95 % CI 1.0 %, 3.4 %) but not postpartum readmissions (AAPC 0.0 %, 95 % CI -1.6 %, 1.6 %). CONCLUSION: Risk for peripartum cardiomyopathy increased during delivery hospitalizations over the study period. Obstetric conditions such as preeclampsia and chronic medical conditions that are increasing in prevalence in the obstetric population were associated with the highest odds of peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Outcomes associated with peripartum hysterectomy in the setting of placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Although peripartum hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum disorder is known to be associated with complications at the time of delivery, there are limited data on postpartum outcomes and readmission risk in this population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze risks for adverse outcomes and postpartum readmissions in the setting of peripartum hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum disorder by severity of placenta accreta spectrum disorder subcategory. STUDY DESIGN: Using the 2016-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database, this retrospective cohort study identified peripartum hysterectomies with a diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorder. The primary exposure was placenta accreta spectrum disorder, subcategorized as placenta accreta vs increta/percreta. The primary outcome was readmission rate and delivery complications. Complications evaluated included the following: (1) nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity (ntSMM), (2) venous thromboembolism, (3) reoperation, (4) intraoperative complications, (5) hemorrhage, (6) sepsis, and (7) surgical site complications. We additionally evaluated delivery hospitalization and readmission mean length of stay, and hospital costs. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were fit for outcomes adjusting for clinical, demographic, and hospital factors. The association measures were expressed as unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2020, 7864 hysterectomies during a delivery hospitalization with a diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum disorder were identified (66.5% with placenta accreta and 33.5% with placenta increta/percreta diagnoses). The overall 60-day all-cause readmission rate was 7.3%. Most readmissions (57.2%) occurred within 10 days of hospital discharge. Compared with peripartum hysterectomy with a diagnosis of placenta accreta, hysterectomies with placenta increta/percreta diagnoses carried significantly increased risk of 60-day readmission (adjusted odds ratio, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.71), inpatient mortality (odds ratio, 13.23; 95% confidence interval, 3.35-52.30), nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-1.71), intraoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.93-2.77), and surgical site complications (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-1.95). The median length of stay during delivery hospitalization was longer for placenta increta/percreta (5.8 days; 95% confidence interval, 5.4-6.1) than for placenta accreta (4.2 days; 95% confidence interval, 4.1-4.3; P<.05). In addition, delivery hospitalization costs were higher in cases of placenta increta/percreta (median, $30,686; 95% confidence interval, $28,922-$32,449) than placenta accreta (median, $21,321; 95% confidence interval, $20,480-$22,163). CONCLUSION: Complication and readmission risks after peripartum hysterectomy with placenta accreta spectrum disorder are high. Compared with patients with placenta accreta, patients with placenta increta/percreta had increased risk for delivery and postoperative complications and postpartum readmission, and increased costs and length of stay.

Delivery Outcomes and Postpartum Readmissions Associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Given that updated estimates of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and risks for obstetric complications including postpartum readmission may be of public health significance, we sought to analyze associated obstetric trends and outcomes in a nationally representative population. STUDY DESIGN: The 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used for this retrospective cohort study. Delivery hospitalizations to women aged 15 to 54 with and without Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were identified. Temporal trends in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnoses during delivery hospitalizations were analyzed using joinpoint regression to estimate the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). To determine whether adverse obstetric outcomes during the delivery were associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were fit with unadjusted (odds ratio [OR]) and adjusted ORs with 95% CIs as measures of association. In addition to analyzing adverse delivery outcomes, risk for 60-day postpartum readmission was analyzed. RESULTS: An estimated 18,214,542 delivery hospitalizations were included of which 7,378 (4.1 per 10,000) had an associated diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnosis increased from 2.7 to 5.2 per 10,000 delivery hospitalization from 2016 to 2020 (average annual percent change increase of 16.1%, 95% CI: 9.4%, 23.1%). Ehlers-Danlos syndrome was associated with increased odds of nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.45), cervical insufficiency (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.46, 3.13), postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.68), cesarean delivery (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.36), and preterm delivery (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.56). Estimates for transfusion, placental abruption, and placenta previa did not differ significantly. Risk for 60-day postpartum readmission was 3.0% among deliveries with Ehlers-Danlos (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.37, 2.25). CONCLUSION: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnoses approximately doubled over the 5-year study period and was associated with a range of adverse obstetric outcomes and complications during delivery hospitalizations as well as risk for postpartum readmission. KEY POINTS: · Ehlers-Danlos syndrome diagnoses approximately doubled over the 5-year study period.. · Ehlers-Danlos was associated with a range of adverse obstetric outcomes.. · Ehlers-Danlos was associated with increased readmission risk..

Dynamic cerebral autoregulation in postpartum individuals with and without preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Changes in dynamic cerebral autoregulation (DCA) may contribute to postpartum maternal cerebrovascular complications after preeclampsia. We hypothesized that DCA is impaired in the first week postpartum after diagnosis of preeclampsia with severe features (PSF), compared with normotensive postpartum individuals and healthy non-pregnant female volunteers. METHODS: We measured DCA within seven days after delivery in individuals with and without PSF, using transcranial Doppler and continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring with finger plethysmography. Historical data from 28 healthy female non-pregnant volunteers, collected using the same methods, were used for comparison. We used generalized harmonic wavelets to estimate autoregulation parameters (phase shift and gain) in very low frequency and low frequency bands, with lower phase shift and higher gain indicating impaired DCA function. We compared DCA parameters between the three groups using the Kruskal Wallis test. RESULTS: A total of 69 postpartum participants contributed data, of whom 49 had preeclampsia with severe features. Median phase shifts in both postpartum groups were higher compared with historical controls across all frequency ranges (p = 0.001), indicating faster autoregulatory response. Gain was higher in both postpartum groups than in historical controls across all frequency ranges (p = 0.04), indicating impaired dampening effect. CONCLUSION: We found that postpartum individuals, regardless of preeclampsia diagnosis, had higher phase shifts and higher gain than healthy non-pregnant/postpartum female volunteers. Our results suggest hyperdynamic DCA with impaired dampening effect in the first week postpartum, regardless of preeclampsia diagnosis.

Postpartum psychosis during delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions, 2016-2019.

BACKGROUND: Up-to-date data on population-level risk factors for postpartum psychosis is limited, although increasing substance use disorders, psychiatric disorders, autoimmune disorders, and other medical comorbidities in the obstetrical population may be contributing to the increased baseline risk of postpartum psychosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine trends in and risk factors for postpartum psychosis during delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions. STUDY DESIGN: Analyzing the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmission Database, this repeated cross-sectional study identified diagnoses of postpartum psychosis during delivery hospitalizations and postpartum readmissions within 60 days of discharge. The relationship among demographic, clinical, and hospital-level factors present at delivery and postpartum psychosis was analyzed with logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals as measures of association. Separate models were created for postpartum psychosis diagnoses at delivery and during postpartum readmission. Temporal trends in diagnoses were analyzed with Joinpoint regression to determine the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 12,334,506 deliveries in the analysis, 13,894 (1.1 per 1000) had a diagnosis of postpartum psychosis during the delivery hospitalization, and 7128 (0.6 per 1000) had a 60-day postpartum readmission with postpartum psychosis. Readmissions with postpartum psychosis increased significantly during the study period (P=.046). Most readmissions with a postpartum psychosis diagnosis occurred in 0 to 10 days (43% of readmissions) or 11 to 20 days (18% of readmissions) after discharge. Clinical factors with the highest adjusted odds for postpartum psychosis readmission included delivery postpartum psychosis (adjusted odds ratio, 5.8; 95% confidence interval, 4.2-8.0), depression disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.3-4.2), bipolar spectrum disorder (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-3.5), and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-4.0). In models analyzing postpartum psychosis diagnoses at delivery, risk factors associated with the highest odds included anxiety disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.5-4.2), schizophrenia spectrum disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9-3.4), bipolar disorder (adjusted odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.1), stillbirth (odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-4.2), and substance use disorder (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-1.9). In addition, chronic conditions, such as pregestational diabetes mellitus, obesity, and substance use, were associated with delivery and readmission postpartum psychosis. CONCLUSION: This study determined that postpartum psychosis is increasing during postpartum readmissions and is associated with a wide range of obstetrical and medical comorbidities. Close follow-up care after delivery for other medical and obstetrical diagnoses may represent an opportunity to identify postpartum psychiatric conditions, including postpartum psychosis.

Trends in and outcomes associated with obstructive sleep apnea during deliveries in the United States, 2000-2019.

BACKGROUND: Population-level data on obstructive sleep apnea among pregnant women in the United States and associated risk for adverse outcomes during delivery may be of clinical importance and public health significance. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess trends in and outcomes associated with obstructive sleep apnea during delivery hospitalizations. STUDY DESIGN: This repeated cross-sectional study analyzed delivery hospitalizations using the National Inpatient Sample. Temporal trends in obstructive sleep apnea were analyzed using joinpoint regression to estimate the average annual percentage change with 95% confidence intervals. Survey-adjusted logistic regression models were fit to assess the association between obstructive sleep apnea and mechanical ventilation or tracheostomy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, peripartum hysterectomy, pulmonary edema/heart failure, stillbirth, and preterm birth. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2019, an estimated 76,753,013 delivery hospitalizations were identified, of which 54,238 (0.07%) had a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. During the study period, the presence of obstructive sleep apnea during delivery hospitalizations increased from 0.4 to 20.5 cases per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations (average annual percentage change, 20.6%; 95% confidence interval, 19.1-22.2). Clinical factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea included obesity (4.3% of women without and 57.7% with obstructive sleep apnea), asthma (3.2% of women without and 25.3% with obstructive sleep apnea), chronic hypertension (2.0% of women without and 24.5% with obstructive sleep apnea), and pregestational diabetes mellitus (0.9% of women without and 10.9% with obstructive sleep apnea). In adjusted analyses accounting for obesity, other clinical factors, demographics, and hospital characteristics, obstructive sleep apnea was associated with increased odds of mechanical ventilation or tracheostomy (adjusted odds ratio, 21.9; 95% confidence interval, 18.0-26.7), acute respiratory distress syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 5.4-6.5), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-1.7), stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.4), pulmonary edema/heart failure (adjusted odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-4.7), peripartum hysterectomy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.23), and preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.2). CONCLUSION: Obstructive sleep apnea diagnoses are increasingly common in the obstetrical population and are associated with a range of adverse obstetrical outcomes during delivery hospitalizations.

Postpartum stroke trends, risk factors, and associated adverse outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Management of postpartum stroke has been the focus of several quality improvement efforts in the past decade. However, there is little recent national trends data for postpartum stroke readmissions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine trends, risk factors, and complications associated with postpartum stroke readmission. STUDY DESIGN: The 2013 to 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to perform a retrospective cohort study that evaluated the risk for readmission for stroke within 60 days of delivery hospitalization discharge. Temporal trends in readmissions were analyzed using the National Cancer Institute's Joinpoint Regression Program to estimate the average annual percent change with 95% confidence intervals. Stratified trends were analyzed for hemorrhage stroke, ischemic stroke, and stroke readmissions at 1 to 10, 11 to 30, and 31 to 60 days after delivery discharge. Risk factors for stroke were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals as measures of association. The risk for stroke complications, including mechanical ventilation, seizures, death, and a prolonged stay ≥14 days, was analyzed. RESULTS: Of an estimated 21,754,603 delivery hospitalizations, 5006 were complicated by a 60-day postpartum readmission with a diagnosis of stroke. The average annual percent change for all stroke readmissions over the study period was not significant (average annual percent change, 0.1%; 95% confidence interval, -2.2% to 2.4%). When the trends in readmission for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were analyzed, the results were similar, as were the stratified analyses by readmission timing. Risk factors associated with increased odds included superimposed preeclampsia (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.9-5.9), preeclampsia with severe features (odds ratio, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-4.4), maternal cardiac disease (odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-3.7), chronic kidney disease (odds ratio, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 3.4-7.5), and lupus (odds ratio, 7.0; 95% confidence interval, 4.9-10.2). Risk was retained in adjusted analyses. Common stroke-related complications included a prolonged hospital stay ≥14 days (12.1 per 1000 stroke-related readmissions), seizures (9.9 per 1000 stroke-related readmissions), and mechanical ventilation (6.6 per 1000 stroke-related readmissions). CONCLUSION: This analysis of nationally representative data demonstrated no change in the rate of 60-day postpartum hospitalizations for stroke from 2013 to 2019. Further clinical research is indicated to optimize risk reduction for stroke after delivery hospitalization discharge.

Risk for adverse maternal outcomes among women with chronic hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether longitudinal health data accounts for end-organ injury or death in the setting of chronic hypertension. DESIGN: Cohort of 64 799 deliveries to 61 854 women. SETTING: US claims data for the preiod 2008-2019. POPULATION: Women with a delivery hospitalisation and chronic hypertension. METHODS: Risk for a composite of acute end-organ injury or death during the delivery hospitalisation and 30 days postpartum was analysed. Adjusted logistic regression models were derived with discrimination for each model estimated by the C-statistic. Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios. Starting with models using data from pregnancy, further adjustment was performed accounting for healthcare use in the year prior to pregnancy, including hospitalisations, emergency department encounters, prescription medications and pre-pregnancy diagnoses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Acute end-organ injury or death. RESULTS: The composite outcome occurred among 5.7% of 64 799 deliveries. For patients with commercial insurance, filling non-hypertensive medications from ≥11 different classes, compared with none (adjusted risk ratio, aRR 4.07, 95% CI 2.86-5.79), three or more hospitalisations before pregnancy, compared with none (aRR 4.75, 95% CI 3.46-6.52), and chronic kidney disease diagnosed in the year before pregnancy (aRR 2.35, 95% CI 1.88, 2.94) were associated with increased risk. For pregnancies covered by commercial insurance, the C-statistic increased from 0.615 (95% CI 0.599-0.630) in the model with pregnancy data only to 0.796 (95% CI 0.783-0.808) for the model additionally including healthcare use in the year before pregnancy. Findings with Medicaid were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Prepregnancy care use predicted adverse maternal outcomes. These data may be important in risk stratification.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cesarean Morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal race and ethnicity have been identified as significant independent predictors of obstetric morbidity and mortality in the United States. An appreciation of the clinical contexts in which maternal racial and ethnic disparities are most pronounced can better target efforts to alleviate these disparities and improve outcomes. It remains unknown whether cesarean delivery precipitates these divergent outcomes. This study assessed the association between maternal race and ethnicity and cesarean complications. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from a multicenter observational cohort of women undergoing cesarean delivery. Nulliparous women with non-anomalous singleton gestations who underwent primary cesarean section were included. Race/ethnicity was categorized as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or unknown. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal cesarean complications including hysterectomy, uterine atony, blood transfusion, surgical injury, arterial ligation, infection, wound complication, and ileus. A composite of neonatal morbidity was evaluated as a secondary outcome. We created a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for selected demographic and obstetric variables that may influence the likelihood of the primary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 14,570 women in the parent trial met inclusion criteria with an 18.8% incidence of the primary outcome (2,742 women). After adjusting for potential confounding variables, maternal surgical morbidity was found to be significantly higher for non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratios [aORs] 1.96, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.63-2.35) and Hispanic (aOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.37-2.01) women as compared with non-Hispanic white women. Neonatal morbidity was similarly found to be significantly associated with the Black race and Hispanic ethnicity. CONCLUSION: In this cohort, the odds of cesarean-related maternal and neonatal morbidity were significantly higher for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women. These findings suggest race as a distinct risk factor for cesarean complications, and efforts to alleviate disparities should highlight cesarean section as an opportunity for improvement in outcomes. KEY POINTS: · Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women experienced more cesarean complications than non-Hispanic White women.. · These findings suggest that disparities in maternal and neonatal outcomes exist specifically following cesarean section.. · Efforts to alleviate disparities in obstetrics should highlight cesarean section as an opportunity for improvement..

Association of a Mediterranean Diet Pattern With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among US Women.

Importance: The Mediterranean diet pattern is inversely associated with the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, including metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disease, but there are limited data on its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) among US women. Objective: To evaluate whether concordance to a Mediterranean diet pattern around the time of conception is associated with lower risk of developing any APO and individual APOs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective, multicenter, cohort study, the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be, enrolled 10 038 women between October 1, 2010, and September 30, 2013, with a final analytic sample of 7798 racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse women with singleton pregnancies who had complete diet data. Data analyses were completed between June 3, 2021, and April 7, 2022. Exposures: An Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMed) score (range, 0-9; low, 0-3; moderate, 4-5; and high, 6-9) was computed from data on habitual diet in the 3 months around conception, assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Main Outcomes and Measures: Adverse pregnancy outcomes were prospectively ascertained and defined as developing 1 or more of the following: preeclampsia or eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, delivery of a small-for-gestational-age infant, or stillbirth. Results: Of 7798 participants (mean [SD] age, 27.4 [5.5] years), 754 (9.7%) were aged 35 years or older, 816 (10.5%) were non-Hispanic Black, 1294 (16.6%) were Hispanic, and 1522 (19.5%) had obesity at baseline. The mean (SD) aMed score was 4.3 (2.1), and the prevalence of high, moderate, and low concordance to a Mediterranean diet pattern around the time of conception was 30.6% (n=2388), 31.2% (n=2430), and 38.2% (n=2980), respectively. In multivariable models, a high vs low aMed score was associated with 21% lower odds of any APO (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.79 [95% CI, 0.68-0.92]), 28% lower odds of preeclampsia or eclampsia (aOR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.55-0.93]), and 37% lower odds of gestational diabetes (aOR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.44-0.90]). There were no differences by race, ethnicity, and prepregnancy body mass index, but associations were stronger among women aged 35 years or older (aOR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.34-0.84]; P = .02 for interaction). When aMed score quintiles were evaluated, similar associations were observed, with higher scores being inversely associated with the incidence of any APO. Conclusions and Relevance: This cohort study suggests that greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet pattern is associated with lower risk of APOs, with evidence of a dose-response association. Intervention studies are needed to assess whether dietary modification around the time of conception can reduce risk of APOs and their downstream associations with future development of cardiovascular disease risk factors and overt disease.

Prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon placement during cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum.

BACKGROUND: The utility of prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon placement in the surgical management of placenta accreta spectrum is debated. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we review outcomes of surgical management of placenta accreta spectrum with and without prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheter use at a single institution. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive viable singleton pregnancies with a confirmed pathologic diagnosis of placenta accreta spectrum undergoing scheduled delivery from October 2018 through November 2020. In the T1 period (October 2018-August 2019), prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheters were placed in the operating room before the start of surgery. Balloons were inflated after neonatal delivery and deflated after hysterectomy completion. In the T2 period (September 2019-November 2020), endovascular catheters were not used. In both time periods, all surgeries were performed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team using a standardized surgical approach. The outcomes compared included the estimated blood loss, anesthesia duration, operating room time, surgical duration, and a composite of surgical complications. Comparisons were made using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included in the study (T1=10; T2=20). The proportion of patients with placenta increta or percreta was 80% in both groups, as defined by surgical pathology. The median estimated blood loss was 875 mL in T1 and 1000 mL in T2 (P=.84). The proportion of patients requiring any packed red blood cell transfusion was 60% in T1 and 40% in T2 (P=.44). The proportion of patients requiring >4 units of packed red blood cells was 20% in T1 and 5% in T2 (P=.25). Surgical complications were observed in 1 patient in each group. Median operative anesthesia duration was 497 minutes in T1 and 296 minutes in T2 (P<.001). Median duration of operating room time was 498 minutes in T1 and 205 minutes in T2 (P<.001). Median surgical duration was 227 minutes in T1 and 182 minutes in T2 (P<.05). The median duration of time for prophylactic balloon catheter placement was 74 minutes (range, 46-109 minutes). The median postoperative length of stay was similar in both groups (6 days in T1 and 5.5 days in T2; P=.36). CONCLUSION: The use of prophylactic endovascular internal iliac balloon catheters was not associated with decreased blood loss, packed red blood cell transfusion, or surgical complications. Catheter use was associated with increased duration of anesthesia, operating room time, and surgical time.