Pre-eclampsia in American Indians/Alaska Natives and Whites: The Significance of Body Mass Index

Influence of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences on Birth Outcomes in American Indian and non-Hispanic White Women

PURPOSE

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are an antecedent risk during prenatal and postpartum periods. We examined race-based differences of the mediating influences of antepartum health risks (prenatal depression, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes) on associations between ACEs and maternal and birth outcomes (postpartum depression, preterm birth, low birthweight) among American Indian and non-Hispanic White women.

METHODS

Public use data from the South Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System PRAMS (2017-2019) were used for this secondary analysis of postpartum women. ACEs and depression were measured based on self-report survey results. Antepartum risks and birth outcomes were extracted from birth certificate data. A moderated mediation logit model estimated direct, indirect, and moderating effects by race, controlling for maternal characteristics and perinatal risks to understand ACEs' impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes between groups.

RESULTS

The sample included 2,343 postpartum women. American Indian versus non-Hispanic White women had a higher mean ACE score (3.37 vs. 1.64) and substantial disparities. Race-based differences were attributed to social, economic, and health-related factors. Adjusting for proportional differences, members of both groups with ACEs demonstrated significantly increased odds of prenatal and postpartum depression. ACEs influenced postpartum depression and preterm birth through the indirect effect of prenatal depression in both races. Prenatal depression indirectly influenced the relationship between ACEs and low birthweight in non-Hispanic White women.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

ACEs were associated with higher levels of prenatal depression, which may negatively influence maternal and birth outcomes in American Indian and non-Hispanic White women. Improving perinatal outcomes must emphasize psychosocial care along with medical care to address the high burden of maternal ACEs in the United States.

The maternal health of American Indian and Alaska Native people: A scoping review

Indigenous people in the United States experience disadvantage in multiple domains of health. Yet, their maternal health receives limited research attention. With a focus on empirical research findings, we conduct a scoping review to address two questions: 1) what does the literature tell us about the patterns and prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people? and 2) how do existing studies explain these patterns? A search of CINAHL, Embase and Medline yielded 4757 English-language articles, with 66 eligible for close review. Of these, few focused specifically on AI/AN people's maternal health. AI/AN people experience higher levels of maternal mortality and morbidity than non-Hispanic White people, with estimates that vary substantially across samples and geography. Explanations for the maternal health of AI/AN people focused on individual factors such as poverty, cultural beliefs, and access to healthcare (e.g. lack of insurance). Studies rarely addressed the varied historical and structural contexts of AI/AN tribal nations, such as harms associated with colonization and economic marginalization. Research for and by Indigenous communities and nations is needed to redress the effective erasure of AI/AN people's maternal health experiences and to advance solutions that will promote their health and well-being.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Across Races and Ethnicities: A Review

Pregnancy is often considered to be a "cardiometabolic stress-test" and pregnancy complications including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can be the first indicator of increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. Over the last two decades, more evidence on the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular disease has become available. However, despite the importance of addressing existing racial and ethnic differences in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, most research on the role of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is conducted in white majority populations. The fragmented knowledge prohibits evidence-based targeted prevention and intervention strategies in multi-ethnic populations and maintains the gap in health outcomes. In this review, we present an overview of the evidence on racial and ethnic differences in the occurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, as well as evidence on the association of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease across different non-White populations, aiming to advance equity in medicine.

An imbalance-aware deep neural network for early prediction of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive complication affecting 8-10% of US pregnancies annually. While there is no cure for PE, aspirin may reduce complications for those at high risk for PE. Furthermore, PE disproportionately affects racial minorities, with a higher burden of morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown early prediction of PE would allow for prevention. We approached the prediction of PE using a new method based on a cost-sensitive deep neural network (CSDNN) by considering the severe imbalance and sparse nature of the data, as well as racial disparities. We validated our model using large extant rich data sources that represent a diverse cohort of minority populations in the US. These include Texas Public Use Data Files (PUDF), Oklahoma PUDF, and the Magee Obstetric Medical and Infant (MOMI) databases. We identified the most influential clinical and demographic features (predictor variables) relevant to PE for both general populations and smaller racial groups. We also investigated the effectiveness of multiple network architectures using three hyperparameter optimization algorithms: Bayesian optimization, Hyperband, and random search. Our proposed models equipped with focal loss function yield superior and reliable prediction performance compared with the state-of-the-art techniques with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 66.3% and 63.5% for the Texas and Oklahoma PUDF respectively, while the CSDNN model with weighted cross-entropy loss function outperforms with an AUC of 76.5% for the MOMI data. Furthermore, our CSDNN model equipped with focal loss function leads to an AUC of 66.7% for Texas African American and 57.1% for Native American. The best results are obtained with 62.3% AUC with CSDNN with weighted cross-entropy loss function for Oklahoma African American, 58% AUC with DNN and balanced batch for Oklahoma Native American, and 72.4% AUC using either CSDNN with weighted cross-entropy loss function or CSDNN with focal loss with balanced batch method for MOMI African American dataset. Our results provide the first evidence of the predictive power of clinical databases for PE prediction among minority populations.

Predictors of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Pregnant Women Living with Obesity: A Systematic Review

Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for pregnancy complications. Most studies to date are in large cohorts, with results presented in a way that assumes all women living with obesity are at equal risk. This study investigates which women living with obesity are at higher risk of specific pregnancy complications. A systematic search of MEDLINE and Embase identified 7894 prospective or retrospective cohort studies exploring predictors of adverse outcomes among pregnant women living with obesity. Following screening, 61 studies were deemed eligible. Studies were selected if the effects of exposure to any predictor amongst pregnant women living with obesity could be collected. Maternal characteristics assessed for association with adverse outcomes included maternal age, race/ethnicity, maternal height, mode of conception, complement activation factors, and history of various comorbidities/procedures. Gestational diabetes mellitus was the most studied outcome (n = 32), followed by preterm birth (n = 29), preeclampsia (n = 27), low birthweight infants (n = 20), small for gestational age newborns (n = 12), and stillbirth (n = 7). This review identified important characteristics that should be considered during the screening and follow-up sessions of pregnant women living with obesity, including pre-existing type 1 diabetes, maternal age < 20 years or ≥35 years, non-White ethnicity, abdominal adiposity obesity, and history of bariatric surgery.

Does race or ethnicity play a role in the origin, pathophysiology, and outcomes of preeclampsia? An expert review of the literature

The burden of preeclampsia, a substantial contributor to perinatal morbidity and mortality, is not born equally across the population. Although the prevalence of preeclampsia has been reported to be 3% to 5%, racial and ethnic minority groups such as non-Hispanic Black women and American Indian or Alaskan Native women are widely reported to be disproportionately affected by preeclampsia. However, studies that add clarity to the causes of the racial and ethnic differences in preeclampsia are limited. Race is a social construct, is often self-assigned, is variable across settings, and fails to account for subgroups. Studies of the genetic structure of human populations continue to find more variations within racial groups than among them. Efforts to examine the role of race and ethnicity in biomedical research should consider these limitations and not use it as a biological construct. Furthermore, the use of race in decision making in clinical settings may worsen the disparity in health outcomes. Most of the existing data on disparities examine the differences between White and non-Hispanic Black women. Fewer studies have enough sample size to evaluate the outcomes in the Asian, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or mixed-race women. Racial differences are noted in the occurrence, presentation, and short-term and long-term outcomes of preeclampsia. Well-established clinical risk factors for preeclampsia such as obesity, diabetes, and chronic hypertension disproportionately affect non-Hispanic Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Hispanic populations. However, with comparable clinical risk factors for preeclampsia among women of different race or ethnic groups, addressing modifiable risk factors has not been found to have the same protective effect for all women. Abnormalities of placental formation and development, immunologic factors, vascular changes, and inflammation have all been identified as contributing to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Few studies have examined race and the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Despite attempts, a genetic basis for the disease has not been identified. A number of genetic variants, including apolipoprotein L1, have been identified as possible risk modifiers. Few studies have examined race and prevention of preeclampsia. Although low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia is recommended by the US Preventive Service Task Force, a population-based study found racial and ethnic differences in preeclampsia recurrence after the implementation of low-dose aspirin supplementation. After implementation, recurrent preeclampsia reduced among Hispanic women (76.4% vs 49.6%; P<.001), but there was no difference in the recurrent preeclampsia in non-Hispanic Black women (13.7 vs 18.1; P=.252). Future research incorporating the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities multilevel framework, specifically examining the role of racism on the burden of the disease, may help in the quest for effective strategies to reduce the disproportionate burden of preeclampsia on a minority population. In this model, a multilevel framework provides a more comprehensive approach and takes into account the influence of behavioral factors, environmental factors, and healthcare systems, not just on the individual.

Hypertension in Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Blood Pressure Goals, and Pharmacotherapy: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) remain one of the major causes of pregnancy-related maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Affected women are also at increased risk for cardiovascular disease later in life, independently of traditional cardiovascular disease risks. Despite the immediate and long-term cardiovascular disease risks, recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of HDP in the United States have changed little, if at all, over past decades, unlike hypertension guidelines for the general population. The reasons for this approach include the question of benefit from normalization of blood pressure treatment for pregnant women, coupled with theoretical concerns for fetal well-being from a reduction in utero-placental perfusion and in utero exposure to antihypertensive medication. This report is based on a review of current literature and includes normal physiological changes in pregnancy that may affect clinical presentation of HDP; HDP epidemiology and the immediate and long-term sequelae of HDP; the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, an HDP commonly associated with proteinuria and increasingly recognized as a heterogeneous disease with different clinical phenotypes and likely distinct pathological mechanisms; a critical overview of current national and international HDP guidelines; emerging evidence that reducing blood pressure treatment goals in pregnancy may reduce maternal severe hypertension without increasing the risk of pregnancy loss, high-level neonatal care, or overall maternal complications; and the increasingly recognized morbidity associated with postpartum hypertension/preeclampsia. Finally, we discuss the future of research in the field and the pressing need to study socioeconomic and biological factors that may contribute to racial and ethnic maternal health care disparities.

Trends in the Incidence of New-Onset Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Among Rural and Urban Areas in the United States, 2007 to 2019

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are growing public health problems that contribute to maternal morbidity, mortality, and future risk of cardiovascular disease. Given established rural‐urban differences in maternal cardiovascular health, we described contemporary trends in new‐onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the United States.

Methods and Results

We conducted a serial, cross‐sectional analysis of 51 685 525 live births to individuals aged 15 to 44 years from 2007 to 2019 using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Natality Database. We included gestational hypertension and preeclampsia/eclampsia in individuals without chronic hypertension and calculated the age‐adjusted incidence (95% CI) per 1000 live births overall and by urbanization status (rural or urban). We used Joinpoint software to identify inflection points and calculate rate of change. We quantified rate ratios to compare the relative incidence in rural compared with urban areas. Incidence (95% CI) of new‐onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increased from 2007 to 2019 in both rural (48.6 [48.0–49.2] to 83.9 [83.1–84.7]) and urban (37.0 [36.8–37.2] to 77.2 [76.8–77.6]) areas. The rate of annual increase in new‐onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was more rapid after 2014 with greater acceleration in urban compared with rural areas. Rate ratios (95% CI) comparing incidence of new‐onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in rural and urban areas decreased from 1.31 (1.30–1.33) in 2007 to 1.09 (1.08–1.10) in 2019.

Conclusions

Incidence of new‐onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy doubled from 2007 to 2019 with persistent rural‐urban differences highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve the health of pregnant individuals and their offspring.

Geographic access to critical care obstetrics for women of reproductive age by race and ethnicity

BACKGROUND

The goal of risk-appropriate maternal care is for high-risk pregnant women to receive specialized obstetrical services in facilities equipped with capabilities and staffing to provide care or transfer to facilities with resources available to provide care. In the United States, geographic access to critical care obstetrics varies. It is unknown whether this variation in proximity to critical care obstetrics differs by race, ethnicity, and region.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the geographic access, defined as residence within 50 miles of a facility capable of providing risk-appropriate critical care obstetrics services for women of reproductive age, by distribution of race and ethnicity.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive spatial analysis was used to assess geographic distance to critical care obstetrics for women of reproductive age by race and ethnicity. Data were analyzed geographically: nationally, by the Department of Health and Human Services regions, and by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Dot density analysis was used to visualize geographic distributions of women by residence and critical care obstetrics facilities across the United States. Proximity analysis defined the proportion of women living within an approximate 50-mile radius of facilities. Source data included the 2015 American Community Survey from the United States Census Bureau and the 2015 American Hospital Association Annual Survey.

RESULTS

Geographic access to critical care obstetrics was the greatest for Asian and Pacific Islander women of reproductive age (95.8%), followed by black (93.5%), Hispanic (91.4%), and white women of reproductive age (89.1%). American Indian and Alaska Native women had more limited geographic access (66%) in all regions. Visualization of proximity to critical care obstetrics indicated that facilities were predominantly located in urban areas, which may limit access to women in frontier or rural areas of states including nationally recognized reservations where larger proportions of white women and American Indian and Alaska Native women reside, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Disparities in proximity to critical care obstetrics exist in rural and frontier areas of the United States, which affect white women and American Indian and Alaska Native women, primarily. Examining insurance coverage, interstate hospital referral networks, and transportation barriers may provide further insight into critical care obstetrics accessibility. Further exploring the role of other equity-based measures of access on disparities beyond geography is warranted.

Prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) are associated with various maternal and fetal adverse outcomes and become an increasingly significant threat to Chinese pregnant women. Yet, the prevalence of HDP in China is not clear. We conducted this meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of HDP and specific subtypes in China. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wangfang, and CMB for studies on prevalence of HDP and specific subtypes, published from 1990 to Jan 21, 2020, without language restrictions. We included all studies reported the prevalence of HDP and specific subtypes in Chinese pregnant women. We excluded qualitative studies, case reports, reviews, conference presentations, and studies only provided abstracts. We using a standard self-developed form to extract information from eligible studies. We did meta-analyses by random-effect models and estimated the pooled prevalence of HDP and specific subtypes. In order to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and subgroup effects, we did and meta-regression and subgroup analyses by pre-specified covariates. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42020166001. We initially identified 4179 records, of which 92 studies with 1,377,448 participants were eligible in the final systematic review and meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence (95% CI) of HDP, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, chronic hypertension, and chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia were 7.30% (6.60%-8.00%), 3.30% (2.90%-3.70%), 4.50% (4.00%-5.00%), 2.00% (1.70%-2.30%), 2.60% (2.10%-3.00%), 0.11% (0.08%-0.15%), 0.60% (0.30%-0.90%), and 0.60% (0.40%-0.80%), respectively. No publication bias was identified, although heterogeneity was high (I² statistics: 92.0%-99.3%). High prevalence of HDP and the subtypes frequently reported in Western and Northern China. Pregnant women who were aged 35 years and above had high prevalence of HDP and subtypes; women who were overweight or obese had high prevalence of HDP, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. The prevalence of HDP and the subtypes vary in different areas in China. Given to increasingly prevalent of the risk factors, such as overweight, obesity, and advance maternal age, strategies to prevent and manage HDP need to be improved, especially for women living in Western and Northern China.

Maternal Mortality Among American Indian/Alaska Native Women: A Scoping Review

Background: Maternal mortality decreased globally by about 38% between 2000 and 2017, yet, it continues to climb in the United States. Gaping disparities exist in U.S. maternal mortality between white (referent group) and minority women. Despite important and appropriate attention to disparities for black women, almost no attention has been given to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. The purpose of this scoping review is to synthesize available literature concerning AI/AN maternal mortality. Methods: Databases were searched using the terms maternal mortality and pregnancy-related death, each paired with American Indian, Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, and Indigenous. Criteria (e.g., hemorrhage) were paired with initial search terms. Next, pregnancy-associated death was paired with American Indian, Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, and Indigenous. Criteria in this category were homicide, suicide, and substance use. Results: The three leading causes of AI/AN pregnancy-related maternal mortality are hemorrhage, cardiomyopathies, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. AI/AN maternal mortality data for homicide and suicide consistently include small samples and often categorize AI/AN maternal deaths in an "Other" race/ethnicity, which precludes targeted AI/AN data analysis. No studies that reported AI/AN maternal mortality as a result of substance use were found. Health care characteristics such as quality, access, and location also may influence maternal outcomes and maternal mortality. Conclusions: Despite AI/AN maternal mortality being disproportionately high compared to other racial/ethnic groups, relatively little is known about root causes.

Concept and connotation of oxidative stress in preeclampsia

BACKGROUND:

Preeclampsia (PE) is a systemic pregnancy-related disorder characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and edema. Free radicals seem to play an important role in the induction of endothelial dysfunction in PE.

AIM:

The aim of the present study was to investigate serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), peroxynitrite (ONOO⁻), paraoxonase (PON-1), malondialdehyde (MDA), and lipid profile in preeclamptic patients compared to the women with normal pregnancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 68 pregnant women were recruited. They were divided into two groups - Group A, 40 women were a newly diagnosed with PE and Group B, 28 women with normal pregnancy. Anthropometric measurements including body mass index and blood pressure in accordance with biochemical measurements including NO, ONOO⁻, PON-1, MDA, and lipid profile were done for preeclamptic pregnant women compared to the controls.

RESULTS:

Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia illustrated insignificant differences in the age (31.22±2.87) compared to the age of control P > 0.05. There were significant changes in the body mass index (BMI), type of delivery and smoking status of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia compared to the control P < 0.05. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were high in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia compared to the control P < 0.01. PON-1 and NO serum levels were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) while ONOO⁻ and MDA serum levels were significantly increased in PE compared to the women with normal pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study concluded that PE is associated with the augmentation of oxidative stress and reduction of endogenous antioxidant capacity regarding PON-1.

Epidemiology of racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity and mortality

The literature abounds with examples of racial/ethnic disparities in both obstetric outcomes and care. Disparities in maternal mortality are well documented with non-Hispanic blacks carrying the burden of the highest maternal mortality rates. Maternal deaths likely represent only the "tip of the iceberg" with respect to pregnancy complications, leading many to explore risk factors and disparities in severe maternal morbidity, a more common precursor to maternal mortality. This review article explores commonly cited indicators of severe maternal morbidity and includes a review of the epidemiological literature supporting or refuting disparities among each indicator.