Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1395101
TRENDS IN Maternal Mortality Rates BY K ATE ANASTAS UNDERREPORTED MATERNAL MORTALIT Y R ATES HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES DURING PREGNANCY. NOW, RECENT DATA HA S GIVEN A BA SELINE TO START WITH AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE U.S. CAN DO BE T TER TO PRE VENT PREGNANCY-REL ATED DE ATHS. The CDC began collecting data through the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System in 1987. Medical epidemiologists reviewed and analyzed data of women who died during or within one year of pregnancy due to pregnancy complications in the U.S. Rates showed: +1987: 7.2 deaths per 100,000 live births +2017: 17.3 deaths per 100,000 live births While there is an upward trend of pregnancy-related death, this could be a result of data collection improvements, such as implementing a standardized pregnancy check box in death records. CURRENT DATA More recently, the CDC National Center for Health Statistics released the first national data on maternal mortality since 2007. Some highlights of the data include: + Maternal mortality rate: 17.4 deaths per 100,000 births (2018) + 658 deaths from maternal causes (2018) + Continued widened racial and ethnic gaps + High maternal mortality rates in women age 40 and older. Women age 40 and older were almost 8 times more likely to experience death than women younger than 25. The Bottom Line: While there are limitations to data, most reports reflect upward trends in maternal mortality. Even if these trends are largely attributable to reporting changes, the medical community can continue to educate patients on prenatal health concerns and promote access to care for expectant mothers. n COMMON CAUSES OF PREGNANCY- REL ATED DEATHS (FROM 2014–2017) + 15.5% Other cardiovascular conditions + 12.7% Infection or sepsis + 12.5% Undisclosed noncardiovascular medical conditions + 10.7% Hemorrhage + 8.2% Cerebrovascular accidents + 6.6% Hypertensive disorders + 5.5% Amniotic fluid embolism + Maternal death related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and anesthesia complications has declined. + Maternal death related to stroke, cardiovascular conditions and other health conditions has increased. PREGNANCY-REL ATED DEATHS BY R ACE & ETHNICIT Y (FROM 2014–2017) Per 100,000 live births: + 41.7 deaths in non-Hispanic Black women + 28.3 deaths in non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native women + 13.8 deaths in non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander women 2 2❱❱❱❱❱ D A TA V A U LT SPECIAL CLINICAL SECTION: WOMEN'S HEALTH