Neighborhood-level Fatal Police Violence and Severe Maternal Morbidity in California.

Police violence is a pervasive issue that may have adverse implications for severe maternal morbidity (SMM). We assessed how the occurrence of fatal police violence (FPV) in one's neighborhood before/during pregnancy may influence SMM risk. Hospital discharge records from California between 2002-2018 were linked with the Fatal Encounters database (N=2,608,682). We identified 2,184 neighborhoods (census-tracts) with at least one FPV incident during the study period and used neighborhood fixed-effects models adjusting for individual sociodemographic characteristics to estimate odds of SMM associated with experiencing FPV in one's neighborhood anytime within the 24-months before childbirth. We did not find conclusive evidence on the link between FPV occurrence before delivery and SMM. However, estimates show that birthing people residing in neighborhoods where one or more FPV events had occurred within the preceding 24-months of giving birth may have a mildly elevated odds of SMM than those residing in the same neighborhoods with no FPV occurrence during the 24-months preceding childbirth (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.02; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.99-1.05), particularly among those living in neighborhoods with fewer (1-2) FPV incidents throughout the study period (OR=1.03; 95% CI:1.00-1.06). Our findings provide evidence for the need to continue to examine the health consequences of police violence.

Risk of Adverse Neonatal Events in Pregnancies Complicated by Severe Maternal Morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of adverse neonatal events after a pregnancy complicated by severe maternal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed a population-based cohort of deliveries in Quebec, Canada, from between 2006 and 2021. The main exposure measure was severe maternal morbidity comprising life-threatening conditions, such as severe hemorrhage, cardiac complications, and eclampsia. The outcome included adverse neonatal events, such as very preterm birth (gestational age <32 weeks), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, and neonatal death. Using log-binomial regression models, we estimated adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between severe maternal morbidity and adverse neonatal events. RESULTS: Among 1,199,112 deliveries, 29,992 (2.5%) were complicated by severe maternal morbidity and 83,367 (7.0%) had adverse neonatal events. Severe maternal morbidity was associated with 2.96 times the risk of adverse neonatal events compared with no morbidity (95% CI 2.90-3.03). Associations were greatest for mothers who required assisted ventilation (RR 5.86, 95% CI 5.34-6.44), experienced uterine rupture (RR 4.54, 95% CI 3.73-5.51), or had cardiac complications (RR 4.39, 95% CI 3.98-4.84). Severe maternal morbidity was associated with ≥3 times the risk of neonatal death and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and ≥10 times the risk of very preterm birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Severe maternal morbidity is associated with an elevated risk of adverse neonatal events. Better prevention of severe maternal morbidity may help reduce burden of severe neonatal morbidity.

Delivery at an inadequate level of maternal care is associated with severe maternal morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Implementing levels of maternal care is one strategy proposed to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The levels of maternal care framework outline individual medical and obstetrical comorbidities, along with hospital resources required for individuals with these different comorbidities to deliver safely. The overall goal is to match individuals to hospitals so that all birthing people get appropriate resources and personnel during delivery to reduce maternal morbidity. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care and the risk of experiencing severe maternal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: The 40 birthing hospitals in Massachusetts were surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Levels of Care Assessment Tool. We linked individual delivery hospitalizations from the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System to hospital-level data from the Levels of Care Assessment Tool surveys. Level of maternal care guidelines were used to outline 16 high-risk conditions warranting delivery at hospitals with resources beyond those considered basic (level I) obstetrical care. We then used the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned levels to determine if delivery occurred at a hospital that had the resources to meet an individual's needs (ie, if a patient received risk-appropriate care). We conducted our analyses in 2 stages. First, multivariable logistic regression models predicted if an individual delivered in a hospital that did not have the resources for their risk condition. The main explanatory variable of interest was if the hospital self-assessed their level of maternal care to be higher than the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level. We then used logistic regression to examine the association between delivery at an inappropriate level hospital and the presence of severe maternal morbidity at delivery. RESULTS: Among 64,441 deliveries in Massachusetts from January 1 to December 31, 2019, 33.2% (21,415/64,441) had 1 or more of the 16 high-risk conditions that require delivery at a center designated as a level I or higher. Of the 21,415 individuals with a high-risk condition, 13% (2793/21,415), equating to 4% (2793/64,441) of the entire sample, delivered at an inappropriate level of maternal care. Birthing individuals with high-risk conditions who delivered at a hospital with an inappropriate level had elevated odds (adjusted odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 2.24-4.96) of experiencing severe maternal morbidity after adjusting for patient comorbidities, demographics, average hospital severe maternal morbidity rate, hospital level of maternal care, and geographic region. CONCLUSION: Birthing people who delivered in a hospital with risk-inappropriate resources were substantially more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. Delivery in a hospital with a discrepancy in their self-assessment and the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level substantially predicted delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care, suggesting inadequate knowledge of hospitals' resources and capabilities. Our data demonstrate the potential for the levels of maternal care paradigm to decrease severe maternal morbidity while highlighting the need for robust implementation and education to ensure everyone receives risk-appropriate care.

Postpartum readmission risk: a comparison between stillbirths and live births.

BACKGROUND: Stillbirth occurs more commonly among pregnant people with comorbid conditions and obstetrical complications. Stillbirth also independently increases maternal morbidity and imparts a psychosocial hazard when compared with live birth. These distinct needs and burden may increase the risk for postpartum readmission after stillbirth. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the risk for maternal postpartum readmission after stillbirth in comparison with live birth and to identify indications for readmission and the associated risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort of patients with singleton stillbirths or live births, delivered at ≥20 weeks' gestation, who were identified from the 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission within 6 weeks of discharge from the childbirth hospitalization. The association between stillbirth (vs live birth) and risk for readmission was assessed using multivariable regression models with adjustment for maternal age, sociodemographic characteristics, maternal and obstetrical conditions, and delivery characteristics. Within the stillbirth group, risk factors for readmission were further examined using multivariable regression. The secondary outcomes included principal indication for readmission (categorized based on principal diagnosis code of the readmission hospitalization) and timing of readmission (number of weeks after childbirth hospitalization). Differences in these secondary outcomes were compared between the stillbirth and live birth groups using chi-square tests. All analyses accounted for the complex sample design to generate nationally representative estimates. RESULTS: Postpartum readmission occurred in 2.7% of 16,636 patients with stillbirths, whereas it occurred in 1.6% of 2,870,677 patients with live births (unadjusted risk ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-1.86). The higher risk for readmission after stillbirth (vs live birth) persisted after adjusting for maternal, obstetrical, and delivery characteristics (adjusted risk ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.46). The distribution of principal indication for readmission differed after stillbirth and after live birth and included hypertension (30.2% vs 39.5%; unadjusted risk ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.93), mental health or substance use disorders (6.8% vs 3.6%; unadjusted risk ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.16), and venous thromboembolism (5.8% vs 2.0%; unadjusted risk ratio, 2.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.60-5.17). Among patients with stillbirths, 56.0% of readmissions occurred within 1 week, 71.8% within 2 weeks, and 88.1% within 4 weeks; the timing of readmission did not differ significantly between the stillbirth and live birth cohorts. Pregestational diabetes (adjusted risk ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.93), gestational diabetes (adjusted risk ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.71), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-2.47), obesity (adjusted risk ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.12), and primary cesarean delivery (adjusted risk ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.58) were associated with a higher risk for readmission after stillbirth, whereas higher household income was associated with a lower risk for readmission (eg, adjusted risk ratio for income ≥$82,000 vs $1-$47,999, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.77). CONCLUSION: When compared with live births, the risk for postpartum readmission was higher after stillbirths, even after adjustment for differences in the patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Readmission for mental health or substance use disorders and venous thromboembolism is more common after stillbirths than after live births.

Association between stillbirth and severe maternal morbidity.

BACKGROUND: Severe maternal morbidity has been increasing in the past few decades. Few studies have examined the risk of severe maternal morbidity among individuals with stillbirths vs individuals with live-birth deliveries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk of severe maternal morbidity among individuals with stillbirths vs individuals with live-birth deliveries during delivery hospitalization as a primary outcome and during the postpartum period as a secondary outcome. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using birth and fetal death certificate data linked to hospital discharge records from California (2008-2018), Michigan (2008-2020), Missouri (2008-2014), Pennsylvania (2008-2014), and South Carolina (2008-2020). Relative risk regression analysis was used to examine the crude and adjusted relative risks of severe maternal morbidity along with 95% confidence intervals among individuals with stillbirths vs individuals with live-birth deliveries, adjusting for birth year, state of residence, maternal sociodemographic characteristics, and the obstetric comorbidity index. RESULTS: Of the 8,694,912 deliveries, 35,012 (0.40%) were stillbirths. Compared with individuals with live-birth deliveries, those with stillbirths were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black (10.8% vs 20.5%); have Medicaid (46.5% vs 52.0%); have pregnancy complications, including preexisting diabetes mellitus (1.1% vs 4.3%), preexisting hypertension (2.3% vs 6.2%), and preeclampsia (4.4% vs 8.4%); have multiple pregnancies (1.6% vs 6.2%); and reside in South Carolina (7.4% vs 11.6%). During delivery hospitalization, the prevalence rates of severe maternal morbidity were 791 cases per 10,000 deliveries for stillbirths and 154 cases per 10,000 deliveries for live-birth deliveries, whereas the prevalence rates for nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity were 502 cases per 10,000 deliveries for stillbirths and 68 cases per 10,000 deliveries for live-birth deliveries. The crude relative risk for severe maternal morbidity was 5.1 (95% confidence interval, 4.9-5.3), whereas the adjusted relative risk was 1.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-1.8). For nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity among stillbirths vs live-birth deliveries, the crude relative risk was 7.4 (95% confidence interval, 7.0-7.7), whereas the adjusted relative risk was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-2.3). This risk was not only elevated among individuals with stillbirth during the delivery hospitalization but also through 1 year after delivery (severe maternal morbidity adjusted relative risk, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.4; nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity adjusted relative risk, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.3). CONCLUSION: Stillbirth was found to be an important contributor to severe maternal morbidity.

Pregnancy after deceased donor vs living donor kidney transplant: associated obstetric and graft outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Outside of pregnancy, recipients of a deceased donor kidney transplant experience worse graft and overall survival compared with recipients of a living donor kidney transplant. In pregnancy, it is unknown whether the type of donor graft modifies either graft health in the peripartum period or pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to define characteristics and outcomes in pregnancy based on donor type in kidney transplant recipients. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult kidney transplant recipients who received their graft between 2000 and 2019 with a subsequent pregnancy enrolled in the Transplant Pregnancy Registry International. The primary outcome was graft loss within 2 years of delivery. The secondary outcomes included severe maternal morbidity and neonatal composite morbidity. Univariate, multivariable logistic regression, and Cox proportional-hazards models were constructed for statistical analysis, with recipients of a living unrelated donor as the referent. RESULTS: Overall, 638 pregnant patients after kidney transplant had pregnancy outcomes that met our inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 168 (26.3%) received a graft from a deceased donor, 310 (48.6%) received a graft from a living related donor, and 160 (25.1%) received a graft from a living unrelated donor. Recipients of a deceased donor were more likely to be nulliparous, have an unplanned pregnancy, and self-identify as non-White. Moreover, recipients of a deceased donor were more likely to experience urinary tract infections (deceased donor: 21.8%; living related donor: 10.1%; living unrelated donor: 20.6%; P=.018). Severe maternal morbidity (deceased donor: 3.4%; living related donor: 2.8%; living unrelated donor: 7.2%) and neonatal composite morbidity (deceased donor: 8.4%; living related donor: 17.1%; living unrelated donor: 14.4%) did not differ by donor type. Deceased donor transplant was associated with graft loss within 2 years of delivery (deceased donor: 6.7%; living related donor: 3.7%; living unrelated donor: 1.3%; adjusted odds ratio, 7.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-60.8) and long-term graft loss from transplant (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-3.95). CONCLUSION: Although our study demonstrated an association between deceased donor transplant and graft loss after pregnancy, it did not provide evidence that pregnancy itself causes graft loss. Recipients of a deceased donor kidney transplant should not be discouraged from pursuing pregnancy based on their donor type, but these patients should undergo preconception counseling with a discussion of their individualized obstetrical and graft risks, close intrapartum monitoring for infection and hypertensive disease, and continued surveillance for at least 2 years after delivery with a multidisciplinary obstetrics and transplant team.

Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder: definition, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Psychological birth trauma and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder represent a substantial burden of disease with 6.6 million mothers and 1.7 million fathers or co-parents affected by childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder worldwide each year. There is mounting evidence to indicate that parents who develop childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder do so as a direct consequence of a traumatic childbirth experience. High-risk groups, such as those who experience preterm birth, stillbirth, or preeclampsia, have higher prevalence rates. The main risks include antenatal factors (eg, depression in pregnancy, fear of childbirth, poor health or complications in pregnancy, history of trauma or sexual abuse, or mental health problems), perinatal factors (eg, negative subjective birth experience, operative birth, obstetrical complications, and severe maternal morbidity, as well as maternal near misses, lack of support, dissociation), and postpartum factors (eg, depression, postpartum physical complications, and poor coping and stress). The link between birth events and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder provides a valuable opportunity to prevent traumatic childbirths and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder from occurring in the first place. Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder is an extremely distressing mental disorder and has a substantial negative impact on those who give birth, fathers or co-parents, and, potentially, the whole family. Still, a traumatic childbirth experience and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder remain largely unrecognized in maternity services and are not routinely screened for during pregnancy and the postpartum period. In fact, there are gaps in the evidence on how, when, and who to screen. Similarly, there is a lack of evidence on how best to treat those affected. Primary prevention efforts (eg, screening for antenatal risk factors, use of trauma-informed care) are aimed at preventing a traumatic childbirth experience and childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder in the first place by eliminating or reducing risk factors for childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Secondary prevention approaches (eg, trauma-focused psychological therapies, early psychological interventions) aim to identify those who have had a traumatic childbirth experience and to intervene to prevent the development of childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Tertiary prevention (eg, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) seeks to ensure that people with childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder are identified and treated to recovery so that childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder does not become chronic. Adequate prevention, screening, and intervention could alleviate a considerable amount of suffering in affected families. In light of the available research on the impact of childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder on families, it is important to develop and evaluate assessment, prevention, and treatment interventions that target the birthing person, the couple dyad, the parent-infant dyad, and the family as a whole. Further research should focus on the inclusion of couples in different constellations and, more generally, on the inclusion of more diverse populations in diverse settings. The paucity of national and international policy guidance on the prevention, care, and treatment of psychological birth trauma and the lack of formal psychological birth trauma services and training, highlight the need to engage with service managers and policy makers.

Severe maternal morbidity in deaf or hard of hearing women in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) have often excluded women who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), even though they are at increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. This study compared rates of SMM during delivery and postpartum among DHH and non-DHH women. METHODS: This nationally representative retrospective cohort study used hospital discharge data from the 2004-2020 Health Care and Cost Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The risk of SMM with and without blood transfusion during delivery and postpartum among DHH and non-DHH women were compared using modified Poisson regression analysis. The study was conducted in the United States in 2022-2023. RESULTS: The cohort included 9351 births to DHH women for the study period, and 13,574,382 age-matched and delivery year-matched births to non-DHH women in a 1:3 case-control ratio. The main outcomes were SMM and non-transfusion SMM during delivery and postpartum. Relative risks were sequentially adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, hospital-level characteristics, and clinical characteristics. In unadjusted analyses, DHH women were at 80% higher risk for SMM (RR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.63-2.02, p < 0.001) during delivery and postpartum compared to non-DHH women. Adjustment for socio-demographic and hospital characteristics attenuated risk for SMM (RR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.38-1.72, p < 0.001). Adjustment for the Elixhauser comorbidity score further attenuated the risk of SMM among DHH women (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate a critical need for inclusive preconception, prenatal, and postpartum care that address conditions that increase the risk for SMM among DHH people.

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.

Severe maternal morbidity surveillance, temporal trends and regional variation: A population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify temporal trends and regional variation in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in Sweden. DESIGN: Cohort study. POPULATION: Live birth and stillbirth deliveries in Sweden, 1999-2019. METHODS: Types and subtypes of SMM were identified, based on a standard list (modified for Swedish clinical setting after considering the frequency and validity of each indicator) using diagnoses and procedure codes, among all deliveries at ≥22 weeks of gestation (including complications within 42 days of delivery). Contrasts between regions were quantified using rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Temporal changes in SMM types and subtypes were described. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Types and subtypes of SMM. RESULTS: There were 59 789 SMM cases among 2 212 576 deliveries, corresponding to 270.2 (95% CI 268.1-272.4) per 10 000 deliveries. Composite SMM rates increased from 236.6 per 10 000 deliveries in 1999 to 307.3 per 10 000 deliveries in 2006, before declining to 253.8 per 10 000 deliveries in 2019. Changes in composite SMM corresponded with temporal changes in severe haemorrhage rates, which increased from 94.9 per 10 000 deliveries in 1999 to 169.3 per 10 000 deliveries in 2006, before declining to 111.2 per 10 000 deliveries in 2019. Severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome (103.8 per 10 000 deliveries), severe haemorrhage (133.7 per 10 000 deliveries), sepsis, embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation, shock and severe mental health disorders were the most common SMM types. Rates of embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation and shock, acute renal failure, cardiac complications, sepsis and assisted ventilation increased, whereas rates of surgical complications, severe uterine rupture and anaesthesia complications declined. CONCLUSIONS: The observed spatiotemporal variations in composite SMM and SMM types provide substantive insights and highlight regional priorities for improving maternal health.

Antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisation trends, risk factors and associated adverse outcomes: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse trends, risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisations. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: A national sample of US delivery hospitalisations with associated antenatal hospitalisations. POPULATION: US delivery hospitalisations in the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2020. METHODS: Antenatal hospitalisations with a pyelonephritis diagnosis within the 9 months before delivery hospitalisation were analysed. Clinical, demographic and hospital risk factors associated with antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisations were analysed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios as measures of effect. Temporal trends in antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisations were analysed with Joinpoint regression to determine the relative measure of average annual percent change (AAPC). Risk for severe maternal morbidity and sepsis during antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisations was similarly analysed with Joinpoint regression. RESULTS: Of an estimated 10.2 million delivery hospitalisations, 49 140 (0.48%) had an associated antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisation. The proportion of deliveries with a preceding antenatal pyelonephritis hospitalisation decreased by 29% from 0.56% in 2010 to 0.40% in 2020 (AAPC -2.9%, 95% CI -4.0% to -1.9%). Antenatal pyelonephritis decreased, but risk for sepsis diagnoses increased during these hospitalisations from 3.7% in 2010 to 18.0% in 2020 (AAPC 17.2%, 95% CI 14.2%-21.1%). Similarly, risk for severe morbidity increased from 2.6% in 2010 to 4.4% in 2020 (AAPC 5.5%, 95% CI 0.8%-10.7%). CONCLUSION: Antenatal pyelonephritis admissions appear to be decreasing in the USA. However, these hospitalisations are associated with a rising risk for sepsis and severe maternal morbidity.

Global burden of potentially life-threatening maternal conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Potentially life-threatening maternal conditions (PLTCs) is an important proxy indicator of maternal mortality and the quality of maternal health services. It is helpful to monitor the rates of severe maternal morbidity to evaluate the quality of maternal care, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This study aims to systematically identify and synthesize available evidence on PLTCs. METHODS: We searched studies in English from 2009‒2023 in PubMed, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Gateway, the POPLINE database, and the Science Direct website. The study team independently reviewed the illegibility criteria of the articles. Two reviewers independently appraised the included articles using the Joanna Briggs Instrument for observational studies. Disputes between the reviewers were resolved by consensus with a third reviewer. Meta-analysis was conducted in Stata version 16. The pooled proportion of PLTCs was calculated using the random effects model. The heterogeneity test was performed using the Cochrane Q test, and its level was determined using the I2 statistical result. Using Egger's test, the publication bias was assessed. RESULT: Thirty-two cross-sectional, five case-control, and seven cohort studies published from 2009 to 2023 were included in the meta-analysis. The highest proportion of PLTC was 17.55% (95% CI: 15.51, 19.79) in Ethiopia, and the lowest was 0.83% (95% CI: 0.73, 0.95) in Iraq. The pooled proportion of PLTC was 6.98% (95% CI: 5.98-7.98). In the subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence varied based on country income level: in low-income 13.44% (95% CI: 11.88-15.00) I2 = 89.90%, low-middle income 7.42% (95% CI: 5.99-8.86) I2 = 99.71%, upper-middle income 6.35% (95% CI: 4.21-8.50) I2 = 99.92%, and high-income 2.67% (95% CI: 2.34-2.99) I2 = 99.57%. Similarly, it varied based on the diagnosis criteria; WHO diagnosis criteria used 7.77% (95% CI: 6.10-9.44) I2 = 99.96% at P = 0.00, while the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC) diagnosis criteria used 2.19% (95% CI: 1.89-2.50) I2 = 99.41% at P = 0.00. CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of PLTC is high globally, predominantly in low-income countries. The large disparity of potentially life-threatening conditions among different areas needs targeted intervention, particularly for women residing in low-income countries. The WHO diagnosis criteria minimize the underreporting of severe maternal morbidity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: CRD42023409229.

Validation of a modified obstetric comorbidity index for prediction of postpartum adverse events including fetal morbidity - a retrospective cohort study from Qatar.

BACKGROUND: The Obstetric Comorbidity Index (OBCMI) is an internationally validated scoring system for maternal risk factors intended to reliably predict the occurrence of severe maternal morbidity (SMM). This retrospective cohort study applied the OBCMI to pregnant women in Qatar to validate its performance in predicting SMM and cumulative fetal morbidity. METHODS: Data from 1000 women who delivered in July 2021 in a large tertiary centre was extracted from medical records. The OBCMI index included maternal demographics, pre-existing comorbidities, and various current pregnancy risk factors such as hypertension, including preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal death, prolonged rupture of membranes and unbooked pregnancies. SMM was based on the ACOG consensus definition, and the cumulative fetal morbidity (CFM) included fetal distress in labour, low APGAR and umbilical artery (UA) pH, admission to neonatal intensive care (NICU), and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). A c-statistic or area under curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the ability of OBCMI to predict SMM and CFM. RESULTS: The median OBCMI score for the cohort was 1 (interquartile range- 0 to 2); 50% of women scored 0, while 85% (n = 842) had a score ranging from 0 to 2. Ten women (1%) scored ≥ 7; the highest score was 10. The incidence of SMM was 13%. According to the modified scoring system, the mean OBCMI score in those who developed SMM was 2.18 (± 2.20) compared to a mean of 1.04 (± 1.40) in those who did not (median 1, IQR:1-3 versus median 0, IQR: 0-2; p < 0.001). The incidence of CFM was 11.3%. The incidence of low APGAR score, HIE and NICU admission was nearly 1 in 1000. Around 5% of the babies had fetal distress in labour and low UA pH. For every 1 unit increase in OBCMI score, the odds of SMM increased by 44% (OR 1.44 95% CI 1.30-1.59; p < 0.001; AUC 0.66), and CFM increased by 28% (OR 1.28 95% CI 1.15-1.42; p < 0.001; AUC 0.61). A cut-off score of 4 had a high specificity (> 90%); 1 in 4 and 1 in 6 women with OBCMI score ≥ 4 developed SMM and CFM, respectively. CONCLUSION: The OBCMI performed moderately well in predicting SMM in pregnant women of Qatar and can be effectively used as a risk assessment tool to red-flag high-risk cases so that appropriate and timely multidisciplinary care can be initiated to reduce SMM and maternal mortality. The index is also helpful in predicting fetal morbidity; however, further prospective studies are required to validate OBCMI for CFM.

Cost analysis of care and blood transfusions in patients with Major Obstetric Haemorrhage in Ireland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Obstetric haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to estimate the economic cost of Major Obstetric Haemorrhage (MOH) and the cost of therapeutic blood components used in the management of MOH in Ireland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a nationwide cross-sectional study utilising top-down and bottom-up costing methods on women who experienced MOH during the years 2011-2013. Women with MOH were allocated to Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) based on the approach to MOH management (MOH group). The total number of blood components used for MOH treatment and the corresponding costs were recorded. A control group representative of a MOH-free maternity population was designed with predicted costs. All costs were expressed in Euro (€) using 2022 prices and the incremental cost of MOH to maternity costs was calculated. Cost contributions are expressed as percentages from the estimated total cost. RESULTS: A total of 447 MOH cases were suitable for sorting into DRGs. The estimated total cost of managing women who experienced MOH is approximately €3.2 million. The incremental cost of MOH is estimated as €1.87 million. The estimated total cost of blood components used in MOH management was €1.08 million and was based on an estimated total of 3997 products transfused. Red blood cell transfusions accounted for the highest contribution (20.22%) to MOH total cost estimates compared to other blood components. CONCLUSIONS: The total cost of caring for women with MOH in Ireland was approximately €3.2 million with blood component transfusions accounting for between one third and one half of the cost.

"Black Women Should Not Die Giving Life": The lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with severe maternal morbidity in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to understand the lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in communities with high maternal mortality to inform practices that reduce obstetric racism and improve patient outcomes. METHODS: From August 2022 through December 2022, we conducted a phenomenological, qualitative study among Black women who experienced SMM. Participants were recruited via social media and met inclusion criteria if they self-identified as Black cisgender women, were 18-40 years old, had SMM diagnosed, and lived within zip codes in the United States that have the top-five highest maternal mortality rates. Family members participated on behalf of women who were deceased but otherwise met all other criteria. We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs), and transcripts were analyzed using inductive and deductive methods to explore birth story experiences. RESULTS: Overall, 12 participants completed IDIs; 10 were women who experienced SMM and 2 were mothers of women who died due to SMM. The mean age for women who experienced SMM was 31 years (range 26-36 years) at the time of the IDI or death. Most participants had graduate-level education, and the average annual household income was 123,750 USD. Women were especially interested in study participation because of their high-income status as they did not fit the stereotypical profile of Black women who experience racial discrimination. The average time since SMM diagnosis was 2 years. Participants highlighted concrete examples of communication failures, stereotyping by providers, differential treatment, and medical errors which patients experienced as manifestations of racism. Medical personnel dismissing and ignoring concerns during emergent situations, even when raised through strong self-advocacy, was a key factor in racism experienced during childbirth. CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions to reduce racism and improve maternal health outcomes should center on the experiences of Black women and focus on improving patient-provider communication, as well as the quality and effectiveness of responses during emergent situations. Précis statement: This study underscores the need to center Black women's experiences, enhance patient-provider communication, and address emergent concerns to mitigate obstetric racism and enhance maternal health outcomes.

Racial Disparity in Severe Maternal Morbidity Associated with Hypertensive Disorders in Washington State: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between hypertensive (HTN) disorders and severe maternal morbidity (SMM). To understand whether there is differential prevalence of HTN disorders by race and whether the relationship between HTN disorders and SMM is modified by race and ethnicity. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using patient-level rates of SMM for pregnancies at all 61 non-military hospitals in Washington State from 10/2015 to 9/2016. Data were obtained from the Washington State Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association of HTN disorders and SMM (with and without transfusion) overall and by race. The population-attributable fraction of HTN disorders on SMM within each racial/ethnic group was calculated. RESULTS: Of 76,965 deliveries, 864 (1.1%) had any SMM diagnosis or procedure. All racial and ethnic minorities, except white and Asian, were disproportionally affected by preeclampsia with severe features (SF) and SMM. Overall, and within each racial/ethnic group, the SMM rate was higher among pregnancies with any HTN disorder compared to no HTN disorder (2.8 vs. 0.9%, OR 3.1, 95% CI 2.7-3.6). Race and ethnicity significantly modified the association. Overall and within each racial/ethnic group, there was a dose-response relationship between the type of HTN disorder and SMM, with more severe HTN disorders leading to a greater risk of SMM. The population-attributable fraction of HTN disorders on SMM was 20.6% for Black individuals versus 17.5% overall. The findings were similar when reclassifying transfusion-only SMM as no SMM. CONCLUSIONS: In Washington, HTN disorders are associated with SMM in a dose-dependent fashion with the greatest impact among Black individuals.

Community-Level Factors are Predictors of Severe Maternal Morbidity Among American Indian and Alaska Native Pregnant People in the Pacific Northwest in a Multilevel Logistic Regression.

INTRODUCTION: American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) pregnant people face barriers to health and healthcare that put them at risk of pregnancy complications. Rates of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among Indigenous pregnant people are estimated to be twice that of non-Hispanic White (NHW) pregnant people. METHODS: Race-corrected Oregon Hospital Discharge and Washington Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System data were combined to create a joint dataset of births between 2012 and 2016. The analytic sample was composed of 12,535 AI/AN records and 313,046 NHW records. A multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between community-level, individual and pregnancy risk factors on SMM for AI/AN pregnant people. RESULTS: At the community level, AI/AN pregnant people were more likely than NHW to live in mostly or completely rural counties with low median household income and high uninsured rates. They were more likely to use Medicaid, be in a high-risk age category, and have diabetes or obesity. During pregnancy, AI/AN pregnant people were more likely to have insufficient prenatal care (PNC), gestational diabetes, and pre-eclampsia. In the multilevel model, county accounted for 6% of model variance. Hypertension pre-eclampsia, and county rurality were significant predictors of SMM among AI/AN pregnant people. High-risk age, insufficient PNC and a low county insured rate were near-significant at p < 0.10. DISCUSSION: Community-level factors are significant contributors to SMM risk for AI/AN pregnant people in addition to hypertension and pre-eclampsia. These findings demonstrate the need for targeted support in pregnancy to AI/AN pregnant people, particularly those who live in rural and underserved communities.

What is already known on this subject? American Indian and Alaska Native pregnant people face higher rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, and the risk is exacerbated for rural Indigenous pregnant people.What this study adds? This publication uses a multilevel model to assess the contribution of community-level factors in severe maternal morbidity risk for American Indian and Alaska Native pregnant people. This analysis highlights the important role that rurality, prenatal care adequacy and access to insurance play in maternal morbidity risk and discusses how those risks are disproportionately felt by American Indian and Alaska Native pregnant people in the Pacific Northwest.

"We don't really address the trauma": Patients' Perspectives on Postpartum Care Needs after Severe Maternal Morbidities.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study explored experiences of 15 women in New York City who suffered physical, emotional, and socioeconomic consequences of severe maternal morbidity (SMM). This study aimed to increase our understanding of additional burdens these mothers faced during the postpartum period. METHODS: Qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews (n = 15) with women who had given birth in NYC hospitals and experienced SMM. We focused on how experiences of SMM impacted postpartum recoveries. Grounded theory methodology informed analysis of participants' one-on-one interviews. To understand the comprehensive experience of postpartum recovery after SMM, we drew on theories about social stigma, reproductive equity, and quality of care to shape constant-comparative analysis and data interpretation. FINDINGS: Three themes were generated from data analysis: 'Caring for my body' defined by challenges during physical recuperation, 'caring for my emotions' which highlighted navigation of mental health recovery, and 'caring for others' defined by care work of infants and other children. Most participants identified as Black, Latinx and/or people of color, and reported the immense impacts of SMM across aspects of their lives while receiving limited access to resources and insufficient support from family and/or healthcare providers in addressing postpartum challenges. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Findings confirm the importance of developing a comprehensive trauma-informed approaches to postpartum care as a means of addressing SMM consequences.

Pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology in morbidly obese patients: assessment of feto-maternal outcomes.

PURPOSE: To examine feto-maternal characteristics and outcomes of morbidly obese pregnant patients who conceived with assisted reproductive technology (ART). METHODS: This cross-sectional study queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Study population was 48,365 patients with ART pregnancy from January 2012 to September 2015, including non-obesity (n = 45,125, 93.3%), class I-II obesity (n = 2445, 5.1%), and class III obesity (n = 795, 1.6%). Severe maternal morbidity at delivery per the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention definition was assessed with multivariable binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Patients in the class III obesity group were more likely to have a hypertensive disorder (adjusted-odds ratio (aOR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.61-3.52), diabetes mellitus (aOR 3.08, 95%CI 2.64-3.60), large for gestational age neonate (aOR 3.57, 95%CI 2.77-4.60), and intrauterine fetal demise (aOR 2.03, 95%CI 1.05-3.94) compared to those in the non-obesity group. Increased risks of hypertensive disease (aOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.14-1.60) and diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.39, 95%CI 1.17-1.66) in the class III obesity group remained robust even compared to the class I-II obesity group. After controlling for priori selected clinical, pregnancy, and delivery factors, patients with class III obesity were 70% more likely to have severe maternal morbidity at delivery compared to non-obese patients (8.2% vs 4.4%, aOR 1.70, 95%CI 1.30-2.22) whereas those with class I-II obesity were not (4.1% vs 4.4%, aOR 0.87, 95%CI 0.70-1.08). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this national-level analysis in the United States suggested that morbidly obese pregnant patients conceived with ART have increased risks of adverse fetal and maternal outcomes.

Prediction model for severe maternal morbidity in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Objectives: To investigate risk factors for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and to develop a risk prediction model. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted among pregnant women who were hospitalized for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) between January 2016 and December 2020 in Fujian College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Province, China (a training set), and a risk predictive model was constructed. Pregnant women with HDP who were hospitalized between January 2021 and December 2021 were selected as a validation set. Concordance index (C-index) and calibration curves were used to test predictive model discrimination and calibration. Results: We included 970 pregnant women (790 in the training set and 180 in the validation set). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to screen for nine related variables such as intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at suspected diagnosis, total bilirubin, albumin (ALB), uric acid, total cholesterol, serum magnesium, and suspected gestational age. SBP at suspected diagnosis (OR =1.22, 95%CI:1.08-1.42) and total cholesterol (OR = 1.78, 95%CI:1.17-2.80) were independent risk factors of severe maternal morbidity in pregnant women with HDP. A nomogram was constructed, and internal validation of the nomogram model was done using the bootstrap self-sampling method. C-index in the training and the validation set was 0.798 and 0.909, respectively. Conclusion: Our prediction model can be used to determine gestational hypertension severity in pregnant women.