Rate of Second and Third Trimester Weight Gain and Preterm Delivery Among Underweight and Normal Weight Women.

Objectives Low gestational weight gain (GWG) in the second and third trimesters has been associated with increased risk of preterm delivery (PTD) among women with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 mg/m(2). However, few studies have examined whether this association differs by the assumptions made for first trimester gain or by the reason for PTD. Methods We examined singleton pregnancies during 2000-2008 among women with a BMI < 25 kg/m(2) who delivered a live-birth ≥28 weeks gestation (n = 12,526). Women received care within one integrated health care delivery system and began prenatal care ≤13 weeks. Using antenatal weights measured during clinic visits, we interpolated GWG at 13 weeks gestation then estimated rate of GWG (GWGrate) during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. We also estimated GWGrate using the common assumption of a 2-kg gain for all women by 13 weeks. We examined the covariate-adjusted association between quartiles of GWGrate and PTD (28-36 weeks gestation) using logistic regression. We also examined associations by reason for PTD [premature rupture of membranes (PROM), spontaneous labor, or medically indicated]. Results Mean GWGrate did not differ among term and preterm pregnancies regardless of interpolated or assumed GWG at 13 weeks. However, only with GWGrate estimated from interpolated GWG at 13 weeks, we observed a U-shaped relationship where odds of PTD increased with GWGrate in the lowest (OR 1.36, 95 % CI 1.10, 1.69) or highest quartile (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.20, 1.85) compared to GWGrate within the second quartile. Further stratifying by reason, GWGrate in the lowest quartile was positively associated with spontaneous PTD while GWGrate in the highest quartile was positively associated with PROM and medically indicated PTD. Conclusions Accurate estimates of first trimester GWG are needed. Common assumptions applied to all pregnancies may obscure the association between GWGrate and PTD. Further research is needed to fully understand whether these associations are causal or related to common antecedents.

Investigating Implausible Gestational Age and High Birthweight Combinations.

BACKGROUND: Birth certificate data overestimate national preterm births because a high percentage of last menstrual period (LMP) dates have errors. Study goals were to determine: (i) To what extent errors in transfer of birthweight and LMP date from medical records to birth certificates contribute to implausibly high birthweight-for-gestational-age births; (ii) What percentage of implausible births would be resolved if the clinical estimate (CE) from birth certificates were used instead of LMP-based gestational age, and with what degree of certainty; and (iii) Of those not resolved, what percentage had a medical explanation. METHODS: Medical records and birth certificates for all singleton infants with implausibly high birthweight-for-gestational-age based on LMP delivered in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest system in Oregon during 1998-2007 were examined. Percentages of implausible records resolved under various scenarios were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 100 births with implausibly high birthweight-for-gestational age combinations were identified. When LMP date and birthweight from medical records were used instead of from birth certificates, 31% of births with implausible combinations were resolved. Substituting the CE on the birth certificate for the LMP date resolved 92%. Of the latter, the clinician's gestational age estimate in the medical record was obtained in early pregnancy in 72%. Five of the eight births with unresolved implausible combinations were to mothers with diabetes; the remaining three had no documented medical explanation. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, use of the birth certificate CE rather than the LMP resulted in a clinically reliable reclassification for the majority of implausible birthweight-for-gestational age deliveries.

Abortion-Related Mortality in the United States: 1998-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To examine characteristics and causes of legal induced abortion-related deaths in the United States between 1998 and 2010. METHODS: Abortion-related deaths were identified through the national Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System with enhanced case-finding. We calculated the abortion mortality rate by race, maternal age, and gestational age and the distribution of causes of death by gestational age and procedure. RESULTS: During the period from 1998-2010, of approximately 16.1 million abortion procedures, 108 women died, for a mortality rate of 0.7 deaths per 100,000 procedures overall, 0.4 deaths for non-Hispanic white women, 0.5 deaths for Hispanic women, and 1.1 deaths for black women. The mortality rate increased with gestational age, from 0.3 to 6.7 deaths for procedures performed at 8 weeks or less and at 18 weeks or greater, respectively. A majority of abortion-related deaths at 13 weeks of gestation or less were associated with anesthesia complications and infection, whereas a majority of abortion-related deaths at more than 13 weeks of gestation were associated with infection and hemorrhage. In 20 of the 108 cases, the abortion was performed as a result of a severe medical condition where continuation of the pregnancy threatened the woman's life. CONCLUSION: Deaths associated with legal induced abortion continue to be rare events-less than 1 per 100,000 procedures. Primary prevention of unintended pregnancy, including those in women with serious pre-existing medical conditions, and increased access to abortion services at early gestational ages may help to further decrease abortion-related mortality in the United States. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Associations of Gestational Weight Gain with Preterm Birth among Underweight and Normal Weight Women.

Studies report increased risk of preterm birth (PTB) among underweight and normal weight women with low gestational weight gain (GWG). However, most studies examined GWG over gestational periods that differ by term and preterm which may have biased associations because GWG rate changes over the course of pregnancy. Furthermore, few studies have specifically examined the amount and pattern of GWG early in pregnancy as a predictor of PTB. Within one integrated health care delivery system, we examined 12,526 singleton pregnancies between 2000 and 2008 among women with a body mass index <25 kg/m(2), who began prenatal care in the first trimester and delivered a live-birth >28 weeks gestation. Using self-reported pregravid weight and serial measured antenatal weights, we estimated GWG and the area under the GWG curve (AUC; an index of pattern of GWG) during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy (≤28 weeks). Using logistic regression adjusted for covariates, we examined associations between each GWG measure, categorized into quartiles, and PTB (<37 weeks gestation). We additionally examined associations according to the reason for PTB by developing a novel algorithm using diagnoses and procedure codes. Low GWG in the first and second trimesters was not associated with PTB [aOR 1.11, (95% CI 0.90, 1.38) with GWG <8.2 kg by 28 weeks compared to pregnancies with GWG >12.9]. Similarly, pattern of GWG was not associated with PTB. Our findings do not support an association between GWG in the first and second trimester and PTB among underweight and normal weight women.

Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, 2006-2010.

OBJECTIVE: To update national population-level pregnancy-related mortality estimates and examine characteristics and causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States during 2006-2010. METHODS: We used data from the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System and calculated pregnancy-related mortality ratios by year and age group for four race-ethnicity groups: non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and other. We examined causes of pregnancy-related deaths by pregnancy outcome during 2006-2010 and compared causes of pregnancy-related deaths since 1987. RESULTS: The 2006-2010 pregnancy-related mortality ratio was 16.0 deaths per 100,000 live births (20,959,533 total live births). Specific race-ethnicity pregnancy-related mortality ratios were 12.0, 38.9, 11.7, and 14.2 deaths per 100,000 live births for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and other race women, respectively. Pregnancy-related mortality ratios increased with maternal age for all women and within all age groups, non-Hispanic black women had the highest risk of dying from pregnancy complications. Over time, the contribution to pregnancy-related deaths of hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, embolism, and anesthesia complications continued to decline, whereas the contribution of cardiovascular conditions and infection increased. Seven of 10 categories of causes of death each contributed from 9.4% to 14.6% of all 2006-2010 pregnancy-related deaths; cardiovascular conditions ranked first. CONCLUSION: Relative to previous years, during 2006-2010, the U.S. pregnancy-related mortality ratio increased as did the contribution of cardiovascular conditions and infection to pregnancy-related mortality. Although the identification of pregnancy-related deaths may be improving in the United States, the increasing contribution of chronic diseases to pregnancy-related mortality suggests a change in risk profile of the birthing population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States: where are we now?

This article provides a brief overview of the work conducted by the Division of Reproductive Health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States. The article presents the latest data and trends in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, as well as on maternal substance abuse and mental health disorders during pregnancy, two relatively recent topics of interest in the Division, and includes future directions of work in all these areas.

Health care utilisation in the first year of life among infants of mothers with perinatal depression or anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on associations between maternal depression and anxiety and infant health care utilisation. METHODS: We analysed data from 24 263 infants born between 1998 and 2007 who themselves and their mothers were continuously enrolled for the infant's first year in Kaiser Permanente Northwest. We used maternal depression and anxiety diagnoses during pregnancy and postpartum to categorise infants into two depression and anxiety groups and examined effect modification by timing of diagnosis (pregnancy only, postpartum only, pregnancy and postpartum). Using generalised estimating equations in multivariable log-linear regression, we estimated adjusted risk ratios (RR) between maternal depression and anxiety and well baby visits (<5 and ≥ 5), up to date immunisations (yes/no), sick/emergency visits (<6 and ≥ 6) and infant hospitalisation (any/none). RESULTS: Infants of mothers with perinatal depression or anxiety were as likely to attend well baby visits and receive immunisations as their counterparts (RR = 1.0 for all). Compared with no depression or anxiety, infants of mothers with prenatal and postpartum depression or anxiety, or postpartum depression or anxiety only were 1.1 to 1.2 times more likely to have ≥ 6 sick/emergency visits. Infants of mothers with postpartum depression only had marginally increased risk of hospitalisation (RR = 1.2 [95% confidence interval 1.0, 1.4]); 70% of diagnoses occurred after the infant's hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: An understanding of the temporality of the associations between maternal depression and anxiety and infant acute care is needed and will guide strategies to decrease maternal mental illness and improve infant care for this population.

Extent of maternal morbidity in a managed care population in georgia.

BACKGROUND: Although maternal deaths are among the most tragic events related to pregnancy, they are uncommon in the US and, therefore, inadequate indicators of a woman's pregnancy-related health. Maternal morbidity has become a more useful measure for surveillance and research. Traditional attempts to monitor maternal morbidity have used hospital discharge data, which include data only on complications that resulted in hospitalisation, underestimating the frequency and scope of complications. METHODS: To obtain a more accurate assessment of morbidity, we applied a validated computerised algorithm to identify pregnancies and pregnancy-related complications in a defined population enrolled in a health maintenance organisation in the south-eastern US. We examined the most common morbidities by pregnancy outcome and maternal characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 37 741 pregnancies; in half (50.7%), at least one complication occurred. The five most common were urinary tract infections, anaemia, mental health conditions, pelvic and perineal complications, and obstetrical infections. Complications were more likely in women with low socio-economic status (SES), and among non-Hispanic Black women compared with non-Hispanic White women. Multivariable models stratified by race/ethnicity indicated that in pregnancies among non-Hispanic White women, low SES had a modest effect on the odds of having preexisting medical conditions [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) 1.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2, 1.5]] or having any morbidity (AOR 1.3 [95% CI 1.2, 1.4]). Low SES had little effect on complications among non-Hispanic Black women. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that comprehensive health insurance coverage may lessen the unfavourable impact of socio-economic disadvantage on the risk of maternal morbidity.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy: population-based birth prevalence and 7-year mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the birth prevalence and 7-year case-fatality rate of peripartum cardiomyopathy for a statewide population by applying the National Institutes of Health Workshop on Peripartum Cardiomyopathy definition, including echocardiographic criteria for left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: This was an epidemiologic study of residents of North Carolina experiencing an obstetric delivery or a pregnancy-related death before delivery in 2002 through 2003 including 235,599 live births. Potential cases were identified from International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), pregnancy and cardiovascular codes followed by medical record review, and from the state pregnancy-related mortality file. Only women meeting the established definition including echocardiographic criteria for left ventricular dysfunction and women with diagnoses at autopsy were included. The state death file and the U.S. Social Security Death Index were searched for the years 2002 through 2010 for all cases. RESULTS: A total of 740 potential cases from 70 hospitals were identified from discharge ICD-9-CM codes. The medical records for 698 (94.3%) were located and reviewed. Seventy-eight met inclusion criteria. An additional seven women had diagnoses only at autopsy. The birth prevalence was 1 case for every 2,772 live births or 3.61 cases per 10,000 live births (95% confidence interval 2.88-4.46). The 7-year case-fatality rate was 16.5% (95% confidence interval 10--25.9%). Black non-Hispanic women experienced an almost fourfold increased prevalence and fatality compared with white women. Women older than age 35 years had the highest prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: The racial disparity in both birth prevalence and case-fatality is striking; one in six women died within 7 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Race, ethnicity, and nativity differentials in pregnancy-related mortality in the United States: 1993-2006.

OBJECTIVE: To compare trends in and causes of pregnancy-related mortality by race, ethnicity, and nativity from 1993 to 2006. METHODS: We used data from the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. For each race, ethnicity, and nativity group, we calculated pregnancy-related mortality ratios and assessed causes of pregnancy-related death and the time between the end of pregnancy and death. RESULTS: Race, ethnicity, and nativity-related minority women contributed 40.7% of all U.S. live births but 61.8% of the 7,487 pregnancy-related deaths during 1993-2006. Pregnancy-related mortality ratios were 9.1 and 7.5 deaths per 100,000 live births among U.S.- and foreign-born white women, respectively, and slightly higher at 9.6 and 11.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for U.S.- and foreign-born Hispanic women, respectively. Relative to U.S.-born white women, age-standardized pregnancy-related mortality ratios were 5.2 and 3.6 times higher among U.S.- and foreign-born black women, respectively. However, causes and timing of death within 42 days postpartum were similar for U.S.-born white and black women with cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, and other pre-existing medical conditions emerging as chief contributors to mortality. Hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, and embolism were the most important causes of pregnancy-related death for all other groups of women. CONCLUSION: Except for foreign-born white women, all other race, ethnicity, and nativity groups were at higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes than U.S.-born white women after adjusting for age differences. Integration of quality-of-care aspects into hospital- and state-based maternal death reviews may help identify race, ethnicity, and nativity-specific factors for pregnancy-related mortality. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

From identification and review to action--maternal mortality review in the United States.

The maternal mortality review process is an ongoing quality improvement cycle with 5 steps: identification of maternal deaths, collection of medical and other data on the events surrounding the death, review and synthesis of the data to identify potentially alterable factors, the development and implementation of interventions to decrease the risk of future deaths, and evaluation of the results. The most important step is utilization of the data to identify and implement evidence-based actions; without this step, the rest of the work will not have an impact. The review committee ideally is based in the health department of a state (or large city) as a core public health function. This provides stability for the process as well as facilitates implementation of the review committees' recommendations. The review committee should be multidisciplinary, with its members being official representatives of their organizations or departments, again to improve buy-in of the stakeholders.

Clinical indications and determinants of the rise of cesarean section in three hospitals in rural China.

This study investigated changes in cesarean delivery rate and cesarean indications in 3 county-level hospitals in rural China. Hospital delivery records in 1997 and 2003 were used to examine the reasons behind the changes. In Chengde County Hospital, the cesarean delivery rate increased from 28% in 1997 to 54% in 2003. The rate increased from 43% in 1997 to 65% in 2003 in Anxian County Hospital and Anxian Maternal and Child Health Hospital. The dramatic increase in cesarean delivery in the study hospitals was associated with a shift from more severe to mild or no clinical indications. The ratio of mild to moderate to severe hypertension increased substantially. More than half of the cephalopelvic disproportion cases were diagnosed prior to labor. The majority of nuchal cord cases were diagnosed without fetal distress. Maternal/family request was the number one cesarean indication in Anxian County Hospital and Anxian MCH Hospital in 2003. Ultrasound evidence of nuchal cord moved from the ninth ranked indication in 1997 to the second in 2003 in Chengde County Hospital.

Changes in pregnancy mortality ascertainment: United States, 1999-2005.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate mortality ratios for all reported pregnancy deaths in the United States, 1999-2005, and to estimate the effect of the 1999 implementation of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and adoption of the U.S. Standard Certificate of Death, 2003 Revision, on the ascertainment of deaths resulting from pregnancy. METHODS: We combined information on pregnancy deaths from the National Vital Statistics System and the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System to estimate maternal (during or within 42 days of pregnancy) and pregnancy-related (during or within 1 year of pregnancy) mortality ratios (deaths per 100,000 live births). Data for 1995-1997, 1999-2002, and 2003-2005 were compared in order to estimate the effects of the change to ICD-10 and the inclusion of a pregnancy checkbox on the death certificate. RESULTS: The maternal mortality ratio increased significantly from 11.6 in 1995-1997 to 13.1 for 1999-2002 and 15.3 in 2003-2005; the pregnancy-related mortality ratio increased significantly from 12.6 to 14.7 and 18.1 during the same periods. Vital statistics identified significantly more indirect maternal deaths in 2002-2005 than in 1999-2002. Between 2002 and 2005, mortality ratios increased significantly among 19 states using the revised death certificate with a pregnancy checkbox; ratios did not increase in states without a checkbox. CONCLUSION: Changes in ICD-10 and the 2003 revision of the death certificate increased ascertainment of pregnancy deaths. The changes may also have contributed to misclassification of some deaths as maternal in the vital statistics system. Combining data from both systems estimates higher pregnancy mortality ratios than from either system individually.

Trends in ectopic pregnancy mortality in the United States: 1980-2007.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate trends in ectopic pregnancy mortality and examine characteristics of recently hospitalized women who died as a result of ectopic pregnancy in the United States. METHODS: We used 1980-2007 national birth and death certificate data to calculate ectopic pregnancy mortality ratios (deaths per 100,000 live births) overall and stratified by maternal age and race. We performed nonparametric tests for trend to assess changes in ectopic pregnancy mortality over time and calculated projected mortality ratios for 2013-2017. Ectopic pregnancy deaths among hospitalized women were identified from 1998-2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. RESULTS: Between 1980 and 2007, 876 deaths were attributed to ectopic pregnancy. The ectopic pregnancy mortality ratio declined by 56.6%, from 1.15 to 0.50 deaths per 100,000 live births between 1980-1984 and 2003-2007; at the current average annual rate of decline, this ratio will further decrease by 28.5% to 0.36 ectopic pregnancy deaths per 100,000 live births by 2013-2017. The ectopic pregnancy mortality ratio was 6.8 times higher for African Americans than whites and 3.5 times higher for women older than 35 years than those younger than 25 years during 2003-2007. Of the 76 deaths among women hospitalized between 1998 and 2007, 70.5% were tubal pregnancies; salpingectomy was performed in 80.6% of cases. Excessive hemorrhage, shock, or renal failure accompanied 67.4% of ectopic pregnancy deaths among hospitalized women. CONCLUSION: Despite a significant decline in ectopic pregnancy mortality since the 1980s, age disparities, and especially racial disparities, persist. Strategies to ensure timely diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancies can further reduce related mortality and age and race mortality gaps.

Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, 1998 to 2005.

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

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

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in the United States and to assess trends. STUDY DESIGN: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.

Overview of maternal morbidity during hospitalization for labor and delivery in the United States: 1993-1997 and 2001-2005.

OBJECTIVE: To assess progress toward meeting the U.S. Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the rate of maternal morbidity at delivery hospitalization by comparing National Hospital Discharge Survey data from two time periods. METHODS: Using data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, we estimated rates of intrapartum morbidity defined by obstetric complications, preexisting medical conditions, and cesarean delivery during 2001-2005 and compared them with rates published for 1993-1997. We calculated and compared the rates for categories of morbidity as well as rates for the summary groups of morbidity. RESULTS: Between the two time periods, the rate of obstetric complications remained unchanged at 28.6%; the prevalence of preexisting medical conditions at delivery increased from 4.1% to 4.9%. Rates of chronic hypertension and preeclampsia, gestational and preexisting diabetes, asthma, and postpartum hemorrhage increased, whereas rates of third- and fourth-degree lacerations and various types of infection decreased. The cesarean delivery rate increased from 21.8% to 28.3%. CONCLUSION: Between 1993-1997 and 2001-2005, the rate of intrapartum morbidity associated with obstetric complications was unchanged and the rate of pregnancies complicated by preexisting medical conditions increased.

Cesarean delivery among women with low-risk pregnancies: a comparison of birth certificates and hospital discharge data.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of data source (birth certificate compared with hospital discharge records) and the definition of risk on the prevalence of cesarean deliveries thought to have "no indicated risk"; eg, the fetus is full-term, singleton, and in the vertex position, and the mother has no reported medical risk factors or complications of labor and/or delivery identified on the birth certificate. METHODS: The study is based on data from 565,767 women who delivered singleton, vertex neonates with gestational ages of 37-41 weeks in Georgia hospitals between 1999 and 2004 and for whom data from birth certificates and hospital discharge records could be linked. The percentages of women with primary cesarean deliveries who did not have risk indicated on the birth certificate and on the hospital discharge record were compared. We also calculated the agreement between data sources overall and for each risk indicator. RESULTS: Among 40,932 women with primary cesarean deliveries and no risk indicated on the birth certificate, 35,761 (87.4%) had a risk identified in the hospital discharge data. The overall agreement between data sources on the presence of any risk indicator was low (kappa=0.18). Among primary cesarean deliveries, the percentage without indicated risk was 58.3% when using birth certificate data alone and 3.9% when using hospital discharge data in combination with the birth certificate. CONCLUSION: Using birth certificate information alone overestimated the proportion of women who had no-indicated-risk cesarean deliveries in Georgia. Evidence of many indications for cesarean delivery can be found only in the hospital discharge data. The construct of no indicated risk as determined from birth certificates should be interpreted with caution, and the use of linked data should be considered whenever possible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Postpartum screening for diabetes after a gestational diabetes mellitus-affected pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate trends in postpartum glucose testing in a cohort of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A validated computerized algorithm using Kaiser Permanente Northwest automated data systems identified 36,251 live births or stillbirths from 1999 through 2006. The annual percentage of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes with clinician orders for and completion of a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test within 3 months of delivery was calculated. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used to test for statistically significant trends. RESULTS: The percentages of pregnancies affected by GDM increased from 2.9% in 1999 to 3.6% in 2006 (P<.01). Clinician orders for postpartum tests increased from 15.9% in 1999 to 79.3% in 2004 (P<.01), and then remained stable through 2006. Completed FPG tests increased from 9.0% in 1999 to 57.8% in 2004 (P<.01), and then remained stable through 2006. No oral glucose tolerance tests were ordered. From 2004 to 2006, the practice site where women received care was the factor most strongly associated with the clinician order, but it was not predictive of test completion. Among women with clinician orders, those who were Asian or Hispanic or who attended the 6-week postpartum examination were more likely to complete the test than their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Postpartum glucose testing in women with GDM-affected pregnancies increased over time. However, even in recent years, 42% of women with GDM-affected pregnancies failed to have a postpartum FPG test, and no test was ordered for 21% of GDM-affected pregnancies.