The utility of ICD9-CM codes in identifying induction of labor

The Role of Labor Induction in Racial Disparities in Cesarean Delivery

We examined the interaction between race and labor induction in cesarean delivery in a cohort of 600,000 deliveries in the Cerner Health Facts database. Black women had higher likelihood cesarean (28.9 vs. 26.5%) and lower likelihood of induction of labor at delivery compared to white women (27.2 vs. 32.5%). Induction modified the association between race and cesarean-Black women (odds ratio=1.36, 95% confidence interval 1.30, 1.43) who were induced had significantly increased odds of cesarean delivery.

Medical indications for primary cesarean delivery in women with and without disabilities

Background: Prior research has found that women with disabilities are more likely to deliver by cesarean than are women without disabilities. It is not clear whether all of the cesarean deliveries among women with disabilities are medically necessary.Objectives: To examine the associations between maternal disability status and type, mode of delivery, and medical indications for cesarean delivery in California deliveries.Study design: Retrospective cohort study of all nulliparous births in California between 2000 and 2012. We classified births as to whether or not women underwent a trial of labor and determined if medical indications for cesarean delivery were present. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association of disability with trial of labor and indications for cesarean delivery.Results: Women with disabilities had lower odds of having a labored delivery, compared to women without disabilities (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.41-0.49). In the sample of women who labored (90.5% of total), women with disabilities were more likely to have a medical indication for cesarean delivery (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.21) and were more likely to have a cesarean delivery (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.38-1.54). In the subsample of unlabored cesarean deliveries, women with disabilities were less likely to have documented medical indications for cesarean delivery (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.41-0.50).Conclusions: Women with disabilities were less likely to labor, and these unlabored cesarean deliveries were less likely to have a medical indication for cesarean, compared to women without disabilities.

The contribution of maternal characteristics and cesarean delivery to an increasing trend of severe maternal morbidity

BACKGROUND

Severe maternal morbidity - life-threatening childbirth complications - has more than doubled in the United States over the past 15 years, affecting more than 50,000 women (1.4% of deliveries) annually. During this time period, maternal age, obesity, comorbidities, and cesarean delivery also increased and may be related to the rise in severe maternal morbidity. We sought to evaluate: (1) the association of advanced maternal age, pre-pregnancy obesity, pre-pregnancy comorbidities, and cesarean delivery with severe maternal morbidity, and (2) whether changes in the prevalence of these risk factors affected the trend of severe maternal morbidity.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study used linked birth record and patient discharge data from live births in California during 2007-2014 (n = 3,556,206). We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess the association of advanced maternal age (≥35 years), pre-pregnancy obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2), pre-pregnancy comorbidity (index of 12 conditions), and cesarean delivery with severe maternal morbidity prevalence and trends. Severe maternal morbidity was identified by an index of 18 diagnosis and procedure indicators. We estimated odds ratios, predicted prevalence, and population attributable risk percentages.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe maternal morbidity increased by 65% during 2007-2014. Advanced maternal age, pre-pregnancy obesity, and pre-pregnancy comorbidity also increased during this period, but cesarean delivery did not. None of these risk factors affected the increasing trend of severe maternal morbidity. However, the pre-pregnancy risk factors together were estimated to contribute to 13% (95% confidence interval: 12, 14%) of severe maternal morbidity cases in the study population overall, and cesarean delivery was estimated to contribute to 37% (95% confidence interval: 36, 38%) of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-pregnancy health and cesarean delivery are important risk factors for severe maternal morbidity but do not explain an increasing trend of severe maternal morbidity in California during 2007-2014. Investigation of other potential contributors is needed in order to identify ways to reverse the trend of severe maternal morbidity.