Cause Of Pregnancy-related Mortality Research Articles

Maternal Sepsis.

Sepsis is the second leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. Early recognition, treatment, and escalation of care for the obstetric patient affected by sepsis mitigate the risk of mortality and improve patient outcomes. In this article, we provide an overview of maternal sepsis and address topics of maternal pathophysiology, early warning signs, diagnostic criteria, early goal-directed therapy, and contemporary critical care practices. We also present an overview of common etiologies of maternal sepsis and suggested treatment approaches.

Validating the safety of low-dose CTPA in pregnancy: results from the OPTICA (Optimised CT Pulmonary Angiography in Pregnancy) Study.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality. CT pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) is the first-line advanced imaging modality for suspected PE in pregnancy at institutes offering low-dose techniques; however, a protocol balancing safety with low dose remains undefined. The wide range of CTPA doses reported in pregnancy suggests a lack of confidence in implementing low-dose techniques in this group. To define and validate the safety, radiation dose and image quality of a low-dose CTPA protocol optimised for pregnancy. The OPTICA study is a prospective observational study. Pregnant study participants with suspected PE underwent the same CTPA protocol between May 2018 and February 2022. The primary outcome, CTPA safety, was judged by the reference standard; the 3-month incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in study participants with a negative index CTPA. Secondary outcomes defined radiation dose and image quality. Absorbed breast, maternal effective and fetal doses were estimated by Monte-Carlo simulation on gestation-matched phantoms. Image quality was assessed by signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios and a Likert score for pulmonary arterial enhancement. A total of 116 CTPAs were performed in 113 pregnant women of which 16 CTPAs were excluded. PE was diagnosed on 1 CTPA and out-ruled in 99. The incidence of recurrent symptomatic VTE was 0.0% (one-sided 95% CI, 2.66%) at follow-up. The mean absorbed breast dose was 2.9 ± 2.1mGy, uterine/fetal dose was 0.1 ± 0.2mGy and maternal effective dose was 1.4 ± 0.9mSv. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was 11.9 ± 3.7. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was 10.4 ± 3.5. The OPTICA CTPA protocol safely excluded PE in pregnant women across all trimesters, with low fetal and maternal radiation. OPTICA (Optimised CT Pulmonary Angiography in Pregnancy) is the first prospective study to define the achievable radiation dose, image-quality and safety of a low-dose CT pulmonary angiogram protocol optimised for pregnancy (NCT04179487). It provides the current benchmark for safe and achievable CT pulmonary angiogram doses in the pregnant population. • Despite the increased use of CT pulmonary angiogram in pregnancy, an optimised low-dose protocol has not been defined and reported doses in pregnancy continue to vary widely. • The OPTICA (Optimised CT Pulmonary Angiography in Pregnancy) study prospectively defines the achievable dose, image quality and safety of a low-dose CT pulmonary angiogram protocol using widely available technology. • OPTICA provides a benchmark for safe and achievable CT pulmonary angiogram doses in the pregnant population.

Implementing artificial intelligence-based cardio-obstetric screening in a diverse patient population: a prospective study

Abstract Background Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality and represents the number one cause of death in the late postpartum period. Purpose The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-based electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) and a point-of-care artificial intelligence-enhanced digital stethoscope for cardiomyopathy screening among pregnant and postpartum women. Methods We conducted a single-arm prospective study of pregnant and postpartum women (up to 12 months following delivery) enrolled at three sites between October 2021 and October 2022. Study participants completed a standard 12-lead ECG, ECG + phonocardiogram recordings with a digital stethoscope, a demographic questionnaire, and a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) within a 24-hour period. Diagnostic performance of the AI-ECG and digital stethoscope for cardiomyopathy detection, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 45%, was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and standard measures of diagnostic performance. Results We included 100 consecutive pregnant and postpartum women who provided informed consent and had at least one ECG recorded, completed the questionnaire, and had an echocardiogram performed. All participants self-identified as female, and 41% were recruited from a federally qualified health center. The median age of participants was 31 years (Q1: 27, Q3: 34). Thirty-eight percent identified as non-Hispanic White, 32% as non-Hispanic Black, 21% as Hispanic or Latino, 6% as Asian, and 3% as Other (1 Native Hawaiian and 2 multiracial). Five percent (5/100) had LVEF <45%. The 12-lead AI-ECG model demonstrated close to perfect discrimination (accuracy 99%; AUC 1.00, sensitivity 100%) for detection of cardiomyopathy with 1 false positive screen (LVEF 49%), Figure 1A. The digital stethoscope (angled position) had an AUC of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.00) for detection of LVEF <45%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the digital stethoscope were 60%, 98%, 60% and 98%, respectively for detection of LVEF <45% (Figure 1B & 1C). Conclusions In this small prospective study, we found that 5% of pregnant and postpartum women had cardiomyopathy, a potentially life-threatening condition, and that a rapid, inexpensive, ubiquitous, massively scalable point-of-care test - the ECG - showed promising results, identifying it with an AUC > 0.98 with the application of artificial intelligence.Figure 1

Burden and causes of pregnancy-related mortality in The Gambia: evidence from census and health and demographic surveillance data

BackgroundThe Gambia lacks capacity to estimate its burden and causes of pregnancy-related mortality (PRM) to guide reproductive health programming. We used census and Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) data...

Trends in cardiovascular complications of pregnancy: A nationwide inpatient sample analysis

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. Physiologic stress of pregnancy can induce several hemodynamic changes that contribute to an increased risk of cardiac complications in the peripartum period. There are ongoing efforts to improve cardiovascular mortality in pregnant patients. Understanding trends in cardiovascular complications during pregnancy may provide insight into improving care for high-risk pregnancies. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database and identified all inpatient hospitalizations for pregnancy and delivery. We then analyzed trends in the rates of cardiac complications in the pregnant patient. ResultsThere are concerning increases in trends of cardiac complications and comorbidities in pregnant people including: acute coronary syndrome, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary hypertension, chronic congestive heart failure, heart transplant, aortic syndromes, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. While the rates of STEMI have decreased, the incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy has remained stable. ConclusionThere are concerning increases in certain cardiac complications during pregnancy. This is likely due to increasing age at the time of pregnancy and associated comorbidities.

Clinical Predictive Factors Affecting Laparoscopic Approach in the Management of Ectopic Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy accounts for approximately 2% of all pregnancies and is the most common cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the first trimester. Our aim was to study the preoperative clinical factors affecting the choice of laparoscopic approach to tubal ectopic pregnancy. 
 Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of tubal ectopic pregnancy cases that were managed by laparoscopy at an academic university hospital in the period January 2010 to December 2018. Cases that were managed medically or conservatively and laparoscopic cases that were converted to laparotomy were excluded. Cases where the surgical approach of laparoscopy or laparotomy were determined by the patients’ choice were also excluded.
 Results: The laparoscopy rate was 49.4%. The mean age was 32.04 years. Compared with laparotomy, laparoscopy was significantly associated with low parity (less than 3) (p=0.008), a low level of initial beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (p=0.032), fewer cases of adnexal mass (p=0.000451), hemoperitoneum (p=0.000072), ruptured ectopic (p=0.000261), and more cases of bowel adhesions (p=0.0095). There was no significant difference between laparoscopy and laparotomy regarding the risk factors of ectopic pregnancy. Salpingectomy and salpingostomy were not significantly different between the two surgical approaches (p=0.643). Twenty-eight laparoscopic cases were converted to laparotomy.
 Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach to ectopic pregnancy was affected by parity, presenting symptoms of pain and vomiting, mean initial beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin, the presence of adnexal mass, the presence of hemoperitoneum, and the rupture of the ectopic. Bowel adhesions were seen more frequently in laparoscopy than laparotomy. Salpingectomy and salpingostomy were no different between laparoscopy and laparotomy.

Pregnancy-related mortality up to 1 year postpartum in sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of verbal autopsy data from six countries.

To compare the causes of death for women who died during pregnancy and within the first 42 days postpartum with those of women who died between >42 days and within 1 year postpartum. Open population cohort (Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems). Ten Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia and South Africa. 2114 deaths which occurred within 1 year of the end of pregnancy where a verbal autopsy interview was conducted from 2000 to 2019. InterVA5 and InSilicoVA verbal autopsy algorithms were used to attribute the most likely underlying cause of death, which were grouped according to adapted International Classification of Diseases-Maternal Mortality categories. Multinomial regression was used to compare differences in causes of deaths within 42 days versus 43-365 days postpartum adjusting for HDSS and time period (2000-2009 and 2010-2019). Cause of death and the verbal autopsy Circumstances of Mortality Categories (COMCATs). Of 2114 deaths, 1212 deaths occurred within 42 days postpartum and 902 between 43 and 365 days postpartum. Compared with deaths within 42 days, deaths from HIV and TB, other infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases constituted a significantly larger proportion of late pregnancy-related deaths beyond 42 days postpartum, and health system failures were important in the circumstances of those deaths. The contribution of HIV and TB to deaths beyond 42 days postpartum was greatest in Southern Africa. The causes of pregnancy-related mortality within and beyond 42 days postpartum did not change significantly between 2000-2009 and 2010-2019. Cause of death data from the extended postpartum period are critical to inform prevention. The dominance of HIV and TB, other infectious and non-communicable diseases to (late) pregnancy-related mortality highlights the need for better integration of non-obstetric care with ante-, intra- and postpartum care in high-burden settings.

The indication and treatment outcome predictors of mifepristone treating ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening disease and is an important cause of pregnancy-related mortality. MTX is the primary conservative treatment medicine of ectopic pregnancy, and mifepristone is also a promising medicine. Through studying the ectopic cases at the third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, the study aims to analyze the indication and treatment outcome predictors of mifepristone. The data of 269 ectopic pregnancy cases treated with mifepristone during the year 2011-2019 were retrospectively collected. Logistic-regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affiliated with the treatment outcome of mifepristone. Then ROC curve was used to analyze the indication and predictors. Through logistic-regression analysis, HCG is the only factor related to the treatment outcome of mifepristone. The AUC of ROC curve predicting treatment outcome with pre-treatment HCG is 0.715, and the cutoff value of ROC curve is 372.66 (sensitivity 0.752, specificity 0.619). The AUC of 0/4 ratio predicting the treatment outcome is 0.886, and the cutoff value is 0.3283 (sensitivity 0.967, specificity 0.683). The AUC of 0/7 ratio is 0.947, and the cutoff value is 0.3609 (sensitivity 1, specificity 0.828). Mifepristone can be used to treat ectopic pregnancy. HCG is the only factor related to the treatment outcome of mifepristone. Patients with HCG less than 372.66U/L can be treated by mifepristone. If HCG descends more than 67.18% on the 4th day or 63.91% on the 7th day, it is more likely to have a successful treatment outcome. It is more precise to retest on the 7th day.

Uterotonic Agents

Uterine atony is a common cause of primary postpartum hemorrhage, which remains a major cause of pregnancy-related mortality for women worldwide. Oxytocin, methylergonovine, carboprost, and misoprostol are commonly used to restore uterine tone. Oxytocin is the first-line agent. Methylergonovine and carboprost are both highly effective second-line agents with severe potential side effects. Recent studies have called into question the effectiveness of misoprostol as an adjunct to other uterotonic agents, but it remains a useful therapeutic in resource-limited practice environments. We review the current role these medications play in the prevention and treatment of uterine atony.

Patient-Perceived Satisfaction and Knowledge Uptake in a Combined Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic.

Heart disease is the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States and has led to the development of combined cardio-obstetrics (COB) clinics as a model for prenatal care. In other areas of medicine, these types of collaborative care models have shown improvement in morbidity, mortality, and patient satisfaction. There is some data to suggest that a combined COB clinic improves maternal outcomes but there is no data to suggest patients prefer this type of care model. This study aims to evaluate patient satisfaction in a combined COB clinic and whether this type of model enhances perceived communication and knowledge uptake. A quality questionnaire was developed to assess patient perceptions regarding communication, satisfaction, and perceived knowledge. Patients who attended the clinic (n = 960) from 2014-2020 were contacted by email, with a response received from 119 (12.5%). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing satisfaction and perceived knowledge uptake with answers based on a Likert scale (7 representing very satisfied and 1 representing very unsatisfied). Safe and effective contraceptive use was evaluated by multiple choice options. Knowledge was also assessed by comparing contraceptive use before and after the clinic. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the clinic (6.2 ± 1.5), provider-to-patient communication (6.1 ± 1.6), and with the multidisciplinary appointment approach (6.3 ± 1.5). As well, participants reported an increase in knowledge about heart disease a result of collaborative counseling. In summary, a multidisciplinary approach to cardio-obstetrics not only improves outcomes but is a patient satisfier.

The trend of the distribution of ectopic pregnancy sites and the clinical characteristics of caesarean scar pregnancy

BackgroundEctopic pregnancy is a life-threatening occurrence and is an important cause of pregnancy-related mortality. We launched the study to investigate the distribution and its variation trend of the ectopic pregnancy sites and the clinical characteristics of caesarean scar pregnancy, to provide information for further clinical practice.MethodsA total of 3915 patients were included in our study to calculate the distribution of the implantation sites of ectopic pregnancies. Then, we performed a χ2 test for trend and calculated the quantity of each type of ectopic pregnancy during 2012–2015 and 2016–2019 to analyse the variation trend.Results(1) The proportion of each site of ectopic pregnancy was as follows: tubal pregnancy (84.70%), ovarian pregnancy (1.56%), caesarean scar pregnancy (8.63%), abdominal pregnancy (0.61%), cornual pregnancy (2.68%), cervical pregnancy (0.49%), heterotopic pregnancy (0.43%). (2) Through the χ2 test for trend, the ratio of caesarean scar pregnancy to ectopic pregnancy showed an upward trend (P = 0.005). From 2012 to 2015 and 2016–2019, the ratio of caesarean scar pregnancy to ectopic pregnancy increased from 5.74 to 11.81% (P < 0.001). (3) A total of 72.78% (246/338) caesarean scar pregnancy patients had one caesarean delivery, 25.15% (85/338) had two caesarean deliveries, and 2.07% (7/338) had three caesarean deliveries. A total of 80.18% (271/338) had aborted before. The most common clinical manifestations were amenorrhea (98.52%), abdominal pain (25.74%) and vaginal bleeding (67.76%), the most common sign was uterine enlargement (46.75%).ConclusionAs the ratio of caesarean scar pregnancy increases, the caesarean delivery rate should be decreased to decrease the morbidity of caesarean scar pregnancy.

Evaluation of the recurrence and fertility rate following salpingostomy in patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy

BackgroundEctopic pregnancy is one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality; the treatment strategies associated with this condition entail complications, such as recurrence of ectopic pregnancy or infertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the recurrence and fertility rate after salpingostomy in patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy.MethodsThis cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at four referral centers of Obstetrics and Gynecology, under the supervision of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Iran). The medical records of 125 patients with tubal pregnancy were reviewed. These patients underwent laparoscopic salpingostomy from April 2009 to March 2016.Data on maternal age, BMI, history of previous EP, genital tract infection, IUD insertion, history of previous surgery, and infertility were further obtained. The patients were followed up for approximately 1 to 7 years. The recurrence of EP and subsequent pregnancy rate were assessed during the follow-up period.ResultsThere was no statistically significant relationship between post-salpingostomy recurrence and maternal age, previous abdominopelvic surgery, and history of infertility(P = .425); however, the post-salpingostomy recurrence of EP was correlated with BMI (P = 0.001), previous history of EP (P = 0.001), genital tract infection (P = 0.001), and IUD insertion (P = 003). Among 95 women who had no contraception, pregnancy occurred in 51 cases (53.6%) and recurrence of EP was observed in 16 patients (12.8%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that salpingostomy is a safe method with a low risk of recurrence and good fertility outcomes for women who consider future pregnancy.

Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolism in Sudanese Pregnant Women.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the major causes of pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the frequency of factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms and measure the plasma levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS) and antithrombin (AT) in pregnant women with VTE and healthy pregnant women. This prospective case-control study determined the frequencies of FVL G1691A and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms and measured the plasma levels of PC, PS and AT in 198 pregnant women with VTE and 198 healthy pregnant women. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) was used to detect the FVL G1691A polymorphisms and prothrombin G20210A gene mutations. The FVL G1691A polymorphism and prothrombin G20210A gene mutations were detected only in pregnant women with VTE, with frequencies of 4.0 and 0.5%, respectively. The highest frequency of FVL G1691A polymorphism was observed in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and positively associated with contraceptive use and termination. Pregnant women with VTE had significantly lower levels of PC, PS and AT than those of controls. In conclusion, among the VTE cases, FVL G1691A polymorphism and PC, PS and AT deficiencies were the most common findings in patients presenting with DVT. Antithrombin deficiency was more common than PC and PS deficiencies. Contraceptive use, high body mass index (BMI) and termination correlated strongly with FVL G1691A polymorphism and PC and PS deficiencies in patients with VTE.

Management of Hypercholesterolemia in Pregnant Women with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

In this review, we discuss strategies for managing dyslipidemia in pregnant women with ASCVD. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women as well as the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the USA. It is paramount to screen, identify, counsel, and treat women of childbearing age who have existing atherosclerotic disease to mitigate the risks of complications and mortality. Dyslipidemias, including hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia, can further enhance the risk for future CVD events. Treating hypercholesterolemia during pregnancy is crucial, and this is an opportune time for cross-collaboration of subspecialties in cardiology, obstetrics, and gynecology.

Abstract No. 514 Uterine artery embolization for post-partum hemorrhage: a health system retrospective review over 7 years

Post-partum hemorrhage is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality. Uterine arterial embolization (UAE) by interventional radiologists can aid in hemostasis, but reproductive outcomes is not well known. We describe hemorrhage etiology, embolization technique, and reproductive outcomes of patients with post-partum hemorrhage who underwent UAE within 24 hours of delivery at a large healthcare system over the past 7 years.

Cardiovascular Disease Screening in Pregnancy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has surpassed the traditional causes of pregnancy-related mortality, including hemorrhage and thromboembolism in the United States. CVD accounts for ~15.5% of all pregnancy-related deaths. Pregnancy is a "natural cardiovascular stress test" for a woman. The physiological changes in the maternal hemodynamics that are geared to accommodate the growing needs of the fetal-placental unit may also lead to symptoms that are indistinguishable from those of CVD, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. It is imperative that an obstetric provider is able to differentiate symptoms of normal pregnancy from those of a pathologic process.

Cardiovascular Considerations in Caring for Pregnant Patients: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Cardio-obstetrics has emerged as an important multidisciplinary field that requires a team approach to the management of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy. Cardiac conditions during pregnancy include hypertensive disorders, hypercholesterolemia, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, valvular disease, thromboembolic disease, aortic disease, and cerebrovascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States. Advancing maternal age and preexisting comorbid conditions have contributed to the increased rates of maternal mortality. Preconception counseling by the multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team is essential for women with preexistent cardiac conditions or history of preeclampsia. Early involvement of the cardio-obstetrics team is critical to prevent maternal morbidity and mortality during the length of the pregnancy and 1 year postpartum. A general understanding of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy should be a core knowledge area for all cardiovascular and primary care clinicians. This scientific statement provides an overview of the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy.

Delivery-associated sepsis: trends in prevalence and mortality

Sepsis is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality. Previous studies have reported an increased prevalence of sepsis during pregnancy. Despite national campaigns to increase sepsis awareness, there is a lack of pregnancy-specific guidelines. We aimed to provide updated national estimates of the prevalence and trends of sepsis, sepsis-related in-hospital mortality, and factors associated with in-hospital mortality among women with sepsis at delivery. We conducted a serial, cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2002-2015 National Inpatient Sample, the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the United States. We used International Classification of Diseases, ninth edition, Clinical Modification diagnosis and procedure codes to identify the study sample of delivery-associated hospitalizations and to capture diagnoses of sepsis (defined as infection with associated end-organ dysfunction). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Obstetric comorbidities and pregnancy-related outcomes were also analyzed. Logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with sepsis during pregnancy and, among those with sepsis, to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the temporal trends in both sepsis and in-hospital mortality. Of the more than 55 million delivery-associated hospitalizations, 13,129 women met criteria for sepsis, corresponding to a rate of 2.4 per 10,000 deliveries. This rate increased from 1.2 to 3.7 per 10,000 over the study period, representing an annual increase of 6.6% (95% confidence interval, 4.2-9.1). The highest crude rates of sepsis (per 10,000) were among deliveries paid for by Medicare (14.8), deliveries to women aged 40 years or older (8.0), and deliveries to non-Hispanic black women (4.6). Compared with women without sepsis, women with sepsis had a greater than 10-fold increased prevalence of most selected obstetric comorbidities. One in 11 women with sepsis died prior to discharge, compared with 1 death in every 15,411 deliveries without sepsis. The sepsis-related mortality rate decreased 21.8% each year from 2010 through 2015. Maternal age greater than 40 years and nonprivate insurance demonstrated the highest odds of sepsis-related in-hospital mortality. While rates of delivery-associated sepsis have increased, case fatality has decreased.

94: Delivery-associated sepsis: trends in morbidity and mortality

Sepsis is a leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality. We aimed to provide updated national estimates of the prevalence and trends of sepsis, sepsis-related in-hospital mortality, and patient characteristics and comorbid conditions associated with sepsis and mortality at delivery. We conducted a serial, cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2002-15 National Inpatient Sample, the largest all-payer inpatient database in the United States. We used ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes to identify the study sample of delivery-related hospitalizations, and to capture diagnoses of sepsis (defined as infection with associated end-organ dysfunction), chronic comorbidities, and pregnancy-related outcomes. Logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with sepsis during pregnancy, and among those with sepsis, to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the temporal trends in both sepsis and in-hospital mortality. Of the more than 55 million delivery-associated hospitalizations, 13,129 women met criteria for sepsis, corresponding to a rate 2.4 per 10,000. This rate increased from 1.2 to 3.7 per 10,000 over the 14-year study period, representing an annual percentage increase of 6.7% (95% CI: 4.2, 9.1). Non-Hispanic black women had higher rates of sepsis than non-Hispanic white women (4.6 vs. 1.9 per 10,000). Women 40 years or older were more likely to have sepsis compared to teenage women (8.0 vs. 2.3 per 10,000). Compared to women without sepsis, women with sepsis had higher rates of preterm delivery (17.7% vs. 7.0%) and cesarean delivery (45.0% vs 31.2%). One in 11 women with sepsis died prior to discharge, compare to 1 death in every 15,390 deliveries without sepsis. The sepsis-related mortality rate remained stable during 2002-2010 but decreased 21.8% each year from 2010-2015. Among women with sepsis, after controlling for socio-demographic, clinical, and hospital-level confounders, age 40 years or older [aOR 2.10 (95%CI 1.30, 3.39)], Medicaid insurance [aOR 1.62 (95%CI 1.16, 2.25)], HIV [aOR 3.96 (1.82, 8.62), and chronic liver disease [aOR 3.27 (1.79, 5.97)] were associated with increased odds of in-hospital death. While rates of delivery-related sepsis have increased, case fatality has decreased.

Pregnancy-Related Mortality in the United States, 2011-2013.

To update national population-level pregnancy-related mortality estimates and examine characteristics and causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States during 2011-2013. We conducted an observational study using population-based data from the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System to calculate pregnancy-related mortality ratios by year, age group, and race-ethnicity groups. We explored 10 cause-of-death categories by pregnancy outcome during 2011-2013 and compared their distribution with those in our earlier reports since 1987. The 2011-2013 pregnancy-related mortality ratio was 17.0 deaths per 100,000 live births. Pregnancy-related mortality ratios increased with maternal age, and racial-ethnic disparities persisted with non-Hispanic black women having a 3.4 times higher mortality ratio than non-Hispanic white women. Among causes of pregnancy-related deaths, the following groups contributed more than 10%: cardiovascular conditions ranked first (15.5%) followed by other medical conditions often reflecting pre-existing illnesses (14.5%), infection (12.7%), hemorrhage (11.4%), and cardiomyopathy (11.0%). Relative to the most recent report of Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System data for 2006-2010, the distribution of cause-of-death categories did not change considerably. However, compared with serial reports before 2006-2010, the contribution of hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and anesthesia complications declined, whereas that of cardiovascular and other medical conditions increased (population-level percentage comparison). The pregnancy-related mortality ratio and the distribution of the main causes of pregnancy-related mortality have been relatively stable in recent years.