Incidence and Causes of Maternal Mortality in the Unites States [294]. (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuriya, Anita; Piedimonte, Sabrina; Spence, Andrea R.; Czuzoj-Shulman, Nicholas; Kezouh, Abbas; Abenhaim, Haim
• Is Part Of: Obstetrics and gynecology. Volume 125(2015)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; 618
• DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000463195.07042.db
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-7844

Abstract

Abstract : INTRODUCTION: Maternal mortality rates have been increasing in recent years in the United States. We sought to identify the most prevalent causes of maternal deaths and examine trends from 2003 to 2011 using a population-based cohort. METHODS: We carried out a population-based retrospective cohort study using data obtained from the Health Care Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample on all women who delivered a neonate, died in pregnancy, or both. Causes of death were determined through case-by-case review of individual patient records. Three-year intervals were used to identify evolving trends for causes of death. RESULTS: There were 1, 102 maternal deaths among 7, 785, 583 births between 2003 and 2011 for an overall maternal mortality of 1.42 (1.33–1.50) per 10, 000 pregnancies. The most common overall attributable causes of maternal death included sepsis (21.1%), cardiac disease (18.4%), hemorrhage (15.9%), venous thromboembolism (15.5%), and hypertensive disorders (10%). Over the course of the study period, overall maternal death rates remained stable; however, deaths resulting from hemorrhage increased from 8% to 21.5%, for hypertensive disorders from 3.7% to 15.1%, and decreased for sepsis-related deaths from 33.7% to 10.2% ( P <.05). CONCLUSION: Maternal mortality remains a rare event. Sepsis rates are increasing and are becoming a predominant cause of maternal mortality. Further research on prevention of septic related morbidity needs to be conducted.