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Yu X, Johnson JE, Roman LA, Key K, McCoy White J, Bolder H, Raffo JE, Meng R, Nelson H, Meghea CI. Neighborhood Deprivation and Severe Maternal Morbidity in a Medicaid Population. Am J Prev Med 2024; 66:850-859. [PMID: 37995948 PMCID: PMC11034747 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have examined whether neighborhood deprivation is associated with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in already socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Little is known about to what extent neighborhood deprivation accounts for Black-White disparities in SMM. This study investigated these questions among a statewide Medicaid-insured population, a low-income population with heightened risk of SMM. METHODS Data were from Michigan statewide linked birth records and Medicaid claims between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2019, and were analyzed between 2022 and 2023. Neighborhood deprivation was measured with the Area Deprivation Index at census block group and categorized as low, medium, or high deprivation. Multilevel logistic models were used to examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and SMM. Fairlie nonlinear decomposition was conducted to quantify the contribution of neighborhood deprivation to SMM racial disparity. RESULTS People in the most deprived neighborhoods had higher odds of SMM than those in the least deprived neighborhoods (aOR [95% CI]: 1.27 [1.15, 1.40]). Such association was observed in Black (aOR [95% CI]: 1.34 [1.07, 1.67]) and White (aOR [95% CI]: 1.26 [1.12, 1.42]) racial subgroups. Decomposition showed that of 57.5 (cases per 10,000) explained disparity in SMM, neighborhood deprivation accounted for 23.1 (cases per 10,000; 95% CI: 16.3, 30.0) or two-fifths (40.2%) of the Black-White disparity. Analysis on SMM excluding blood transfusion showed consistent but weaker results. CONCLUSIONS Neighborhood deprivation may be used as an effective tool to identify at-risk individuals within a low-income population. Community-engaged interventions aiming at improving neighborhood conditions may be helpful to reduce both SMM prevalence and racial inequity in SMM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan.
| | - Jennifer E Johnson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan; Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Lee Anne Roman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Kent Key
- Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan
| | - Jonne McCoy White
- Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, Flint, Michigan
| | - Hannah Bolder
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Jennifer E Raffo
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Ran Meng
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Hannah Nelson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Cristian I Meghea
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids and East Lansing, Michigan
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Osei-Poku GK, Prentice JC, Easter SR, Diop H. Delivery at an inadequate level of maternal care is associated with severe maternal morbidity. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024:S0002-9378(24)00421-6. [PMID: 38432412 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.02.308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Implementing levels of maternal care is one strategy proposed to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. The levels of maternal care framework outline individual medical and obstetrical comorbidities, along with hospital resources required for individuals with these different comorbidities to deliver safely. The overall goal is to match individuals to hospitals so that all birthing people get appropriate resources and personnel during delivery to reduce maternal morbidity. OBJECTIVE This study examined the association between delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care and the risk of experiencing severe maternal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN The 40 birthing hospitals in Massachusetts were surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Levels of Care Assessment Tool. We linked individual delivery hospitalizations from the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System to hospital-level data from the Levels of Care Assessment Tool surveys. Level of maternal care guidelines were used to outline 16 high-risk conditions warranting delivery at hospitals with resources beyond those considered basic (level I) obstetrical care. We then used the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned levels to determine if delivery occurred at a hospital that had the resources to meet an individual's needs (ie, if a patient received risk-appropriate care). We conducted our analyses in 2 stages. First, multivariable logistic regression models predicted if an individual delivered in a hospital that did not have the resources for their risk condition. The main explanatory variable of interest was if the hospital self-assessed their level of maternal care to be higher than the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level. We then used logistic regression to examine the association between delivery at an inappropriate level hospital and the presence of severe maternal morbidity at delivery. RESULTS Among 64,441 deliveries in Massachusetts from January 1 to December 31, 2019, 33.2% (21,415/64,441) had 1 or more of the 16 high-risk conditions that require delivery at a center designated as a level I or higher. Of the 21,415 individuals with a high-risk condition, 13% (2793/21,415), equating to 4% (2793/64,441) of the entire sample, delivered at an inappropriate level of maternal care. Birthing individuals with high-risk conditions who delivered at a hospital with an inappropriate level had elevated odds (adjusted odds ratio, 3.34; 95% confidence interval, 2.24-4.96) of experiencing severe maternal morbidity after adjusting for patient comorbidities, demographics, average hospital severe maternal morbidity rate, hospital level of maternal care, and geographic region. CONCLUSION Birthing people who delivered in a hospital with risk-inappropriate resources were substantially more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity. Delivery in a hospital with a discrepancy in their self-assessment and the Levels of Care Assessment Tool assigned level substantially predicted delivery in a hospital with an inappropriate level of maternal care, suggesting inadequate knowledge of hospitals' resources and capabilities. Our data demonstrate the potential for the levels of maternal care paradigm to decrease severe maternal morbidity while highlighting the need for robust implementation and education to ensure everyone receives risk-appropriate care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godwin K Osei-Poku
- Division of Research and Analysis, Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA.
| | - Julia C Prentice
- Division of Research and Analysis, Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Sarah Rae Easter
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Hafsatou Diop
- Commissioners Office, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Phillips JM, Bodnar LM, Himes KP. Association between gestational age at delivery and indicator-specific severe maternal morbidity. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2023; 36:2198633. [PMID: 37045599 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2198633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Individuals who deliver preterm are disproportionately affected by severe maternal morbidity. Limited data suggest that indicator-specific maternal morbidity varies by gestational age at delivery. We sought to evaluate the relationship between gestational age at delivery and the incidence of severe maternal morbidity and indicator-specific severe maternal morbidity. METHODS We used a hospital administrative delivery database to identify all singleton deliveries between 16 and 42 weeks gestation from 2002 to 2018. We defined severe maternal morbidity as the presence of any International Classification of Disease diagnosis or procedure codes outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, intensive care unit admission, and/or prolonged postpartum hospital length of stay. Indicator-specific severe maternal morbidity was based on the diagnosis and procedure codes and was characterized across gestational age epochs. We categorized gestational age into three epochs to capture extremely preterm birth (less than 28 weeks gestation), preterm birth (28-36 weeks gestation) and term birth (37 weeks gestation and above). Multivariable binomial regression was used to assess the association between categories of gestational age at delivery and severe maternal morbidity adjusting for confounders including age, race, body mass index (BMI), insurance status, and preexisting hypertension or diabetes. RESULTS Severe maternal morbidity occurred in 2.5% of all deliveries. The unadjusted incidence of severe maternal morbidity by gestational age epoch was 12% at less than 28 weeks gestation, 8.4% at 28 to 36 weeks of gestation, and 1.7% at greater than or equal to 37 weeks gestation. After controlling for potential confounders the predicted probability of severe maternal morbidity was 16% (95% CI 14,17%) at 24 weeks compared to 2.2% (95% CI 2.1,2.3%) at 38 weeks. Sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, mechanical ventilation, and shock were the most common diagnostic codes in deliveries less than 28 weeks gestation. Heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias were more common in patients with severe maternal morbidity delivering at term. CONCLUSION A high proportion of severe maternal morbidity occurred in preterm patients, with the highest rates occurring at less than 28 weeks gestation. Individuals with severe maternal morbidity who deliver preterm had distinct indicators of morbidity compared to those who deliver at term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Phillips
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Lisa M Bodnar
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Katherine P Himes
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
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Hales EDS, Ferketich AK, Klebanoff MA. The racial disparity of severe maternal morbidity across weeks of gestation: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2019 National Inpatient Sample. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023:S0002-9378(23)02030-6. [PMID: 37979826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.11.1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe maternal morbidity is increasing in the United States. Black women experience the highest rates of severe maternal morbidity and also of preterm births, which are associated with severe maternal morbidity. The racial disparity of severe maternal morbidity across weeks of gestation has not been well-studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate differences in severe maternal morbidity between Black and White birthing people by week of gestation. Differences may indicate periods of pregnancy when Black women are particularly vulnerable to severe maternal morbidity and may require additional interventions. STUDY DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study using the National Inpatient Sample from 2019. We used International Classification of Diseases codes from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to identify severe maternal morbidity from delivery hospitalizations. We examined the rates of severe maternal morbidity in Black vs White women by week of gestation to evaluate periods of pregnancy when Black women experience additional risks of severe maternal morbidity while adjusting for age, region, medical comorbidities, and Medicaid enrollment. Severe maternal morbidity was analyzed while both including and excluding cases for which blood transfusion was the only indicator of severe maternal morbidity. RESULTS Overall, Black birthing people had twice the rate of severe maternal morbidity births compared with White birthing people (2.7% vs 1.3%; P<.0001) and were more likely to deliver preterm (14.7% vs 9.4%; P<.0001). The racial disparity of severe maternal morbidity was present throughout all weeks of gestation, with the largest gap observed at extremely and moderately preterm gestations (22-33 weeks). Rates of severe maternal morbidity for Black women peaked at 22 to 33 weeks' gestation and were lowest at term (≥37 weeks). Black women had a greater proportion of severe maternal morbidity cases due to blood transfusion (68.3% vs 64.5%; P<.01) and acute renal failure (11.1% vs 8.5%; P<.001). CONCLUSION Black women experience a substantially higher rate of severe maternal morbidity at preterm gestations (22-36 weeks) in addition to higher rates of preterm delivery. Even when accounting for age, medical comorbidities, and social determinants, Black birthing people have higher odds of severe maternal morbidity throughout pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily D S Hales
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Amy K Ferketich
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Mark A Klebanoff
- Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; Center for Perinatal Research, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
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Igbinosa II, Leonard SA, Noelette F, Davies-Balch S, Carmichael SL, Main E, Lyell DJ. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Anemia and Severe Maternal Morbidity. Obstet Gynecol 2023; 142:845-854. [PMID: 37678935 PMCID: PMC10510811 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate antepartum anemia prevalence by race and ethnicity, to assess whether such differences contribute to severe maternal morbidity (SMM), and to estimate the contribution of antepartum anemia to SMM and nontransfusion SMM by race and ethnicity. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked vital record and birth hospitalization data for singleton births at or after 20 weeks of gestation in California from 2011 through 2020. Pregnant patients with hereditary anemias, out-of-hospital births, unlinked records, and missing variables of interest were excluded. Antepartum anemia prevalence and trends were estimated by race and ethnicity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria were used for SMM and nontransfusion SMM indicators. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) for SMM and nontransfusion SMM by race and ethnicity after sequential adjustment for social determinants, parity, obstetric comorbidities, delivery, and antepartum anemia. Population attributable risk percentages were calculated to assess the contribution of antepartum anemia to SMM and nontransfusion SMM by race and ethnicity. RESULTS In total, 3,863,594 births in California were included. In 2020, Black pregnant patients had the highest incidence of antepartum anemia (21.5%), followed by Pacific Islander (18.2%), American Indian-Alaska Native (14.1%), multiracial (14.0%), Hispanic (12.6%), Asian (10.6%), and White pregnant patients (9.6%). From 2011 to 2020, the prevalence of anemia increased more than100% among Black patients, and there was a persistent gap in prevalence among Black compared with White patients. Compared with White patients, the adjusted risk for SMM was high among most racial and ethnic groups; adjustment for anemia after sequential modeling for known confounders decreased SMM risk most for Black pregnant patients (approximated RR 1.47, 95% CI 1.42-1.53 to approximated RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.22-1.37). Compared with White patients, the full adjusted nontransfusion SMM risk remained high for most groups except Hispanic and multiracial patients. Within each racial and ethnic group, the population attributable risk percentage for antepartum anemia and SMM was highest for multiracial patients (21.4%, 95% CI 17.5-25.0%), followed by Black (20.9%, 95% CI 18.1-23.4%) and Hispanic (20.9%, 95% CI 19.9-22.1%) patients. The nontransfusion SMM population attributable risk percentages for Asian, Black, and White pregnant patients were less than 8%. CONCLUSION Antepartum anemia, most prevalent among Black pregnant patients, contributed to disparities in SMM by race and ethnicity. Nearly one in five to six SMM cases among Black, Hispanic, American Indian-Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, and multiracial pregnant patients is attributable in part to antepartum anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irogue I Igbinosa
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, and the BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center, Fresno, California
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Osei-Poku GK, Prentice JC, Peeler M, Bernstein SN, Iverson RE, Schiff DM. Risk of Severe Maternal Morbidity in Birthing People With Opioid Use Disorder. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:524-531. [PMID: 37423777 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We examined severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among birthing people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and evaluated the extent to which differences in SMM exist by race and ethnicity. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using hospital discharge data for all Massachusetts births between 2016 and 2020. SMM rates for all SMM indicators, except transfusions, were computed for those diagnosed with and without OUD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between OUD and SMM after adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, including race and ethnicity. RESULTS Among 324,012 childbirths, the SMM rate was 148 (95% confidence interval [CI]. 115-189) per 10,000 childbirths among birthing people with OUD compared with 88 (95% CI, 85-91) for those without. In adjusted models, both OUD and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with SMM. Birthing people with OUD had 2.12 (95% CI, 1.64-2.75) times the odds of experiencing an SMM event compared with those without. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic birthing people were at 1.85 (95% CI, 1.65-2.07) and 1.26 (95% CI, 1.13-1.41) higher odds of experiencing SMM compared with non-Hispanic White birthing people. Among birthing people with OUD, the odds of SMM were not significantly different between birthing people of color and non-Hispanic White individuals. CONCLUSIONS Birthing people with OUD are at an elevated risk of SMM, underscoring the need for improved access to OUD treatment and increased support. Perinatal quality improvement collaboratives should measure SMM in bundles aimed at improving outcomes for birthing people with OUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godwin K Osei-Poku
- Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Julia C Prentice
- Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mary Peeler
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sarah N Bernstein
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ronald E Iverson
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Davida M Schiff
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics and Newborn Medicine, Mass General Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
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Boghossian NS, Greenberg LT, Saade GR, Rogowski J, Phibbs CS, Passarella M, Buzas JS, Lorch SA. Association of Sickle Cell Disease With Racial Disparities and Severe Maternal Morbidities in Black Individuals. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:808-817. [PMID: 37273202 PMCID: PMC10242511 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.1580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Importance Little is known about the association between sickle cell disease (SCD) and severe maternal morbidity (SMM). Objective To examine the association of SCD with racial disparities in SMM and with SMM among Black individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was a retrospective population-based investigation of individuals with and without SCD in 5 states (California [2008-2018], Michigan [2008-2020], Missouri [2008-2014], Pennsylvania [2008-2014], and South Carolina [2008-2020]) delivering a fetal death or live birth. Data were analyzed between July and December 2022. Exposure Sickle cell disease identified during the delivery admission by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcomes were SMM including and excluding blood transfusions during the delivery hospitalization. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) adjusted for birth year, state, insurance type, education, maternal age, Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, and obstetric comorbidity index. Results From a sample of 8 693 616 patients (mean [SD] age, 28.5 [6.1] years), 956 951 were Black individuals (11.0%), of whom 3586 (0.37%) had SCD. Black individuals with SCD vs Black individuals without SCD were more likely to have Medicaid insurance (70.2% vs 64.6%), to have a cesarean delivery (44.6% vs 34.0%), and to reside in South Carolina (25.2% vs 21.5%). Sickle cell disease accounted for 8.9% and for 14.3% of the Black-White disparity in SMM and nontransfusion SMM, respectively. Among Black individuals, SCD complicated 0.37% of the pregnancies but contributed to 4.3% of the SMM cases and to 6.9% of the nontransfusion SMM cases. Among Black individuals with SCD compared with those without, the crude RRs of SMM and nontransfusion SMM during the delivery hospitalization were 11.9 (95% CI, 11.3-12.5) and 19.8 (95% CI, 18.5-21.2), respectively, while the adjusted RRs were 3.8 (95% CI, 3.3-4.5) and 6.5 (95% CI, 5.3-8.0), respectively. The SMM indicators that incurred the highest adjusted RRs included air and thrombotic embolism (4.8; 95% CI, 2.9-7.8), puerperal cerebrovascular disorders (4.7; 95% CI, 3.0-7.4), and blood transfusion (3.7; 95% CI, 3.2-4.3). Conclusions and Relevance In this retrospective cohort study, SCD was found to be an important contributor to racial disparities in SMM and was associated with an elevated risk of SMM among Black individuals. Efforts from the research community, policy makers, and funding agencies are needed to advance care among individuals with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nansi S. Boghossian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia
| | | | - George R. Saade
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk
| | - Jeannette Rogowski
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, State College
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Implementation to Innovation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California
- Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Molly Passarella
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jeffrey S. Buzas
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Vermont, Burlington
| | - Scott A. Lorch
- Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Hamm RF, Moniz MH, Wahid I, Breman RB, Callaghan-Koru JA. Implementation research priorities for addressing the maternal health crisis in the USA: results from a modified Delphi study among researchers. Implement Sci Commun 2023; 4:83. [PMID: 37480135 PMCID: PMC10360260 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-023-00461-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal health outcomes in the USA are far worse than in peer nations. Increasing implementation research in maternity care is critical to addressing quality gaps and unwarranted variations in care. Implementation research priorities have not yet been defined or well represented in the plans for maternal health research investments in the USA. METHODS This descriptive study used a modified Delphi method to solicit and rank research priorities at the intersection of implementation science and maternal health through two sequential web-based surveys. A purposeful, yet broad sample of researchers with relevant subject matter knowledge was identified through searches of published articles and grant databases. The surveys addressed five implementation research areas in maternal health: (1) practices to prioritize for broader implementation, (2) practices to prioritize for de-implementation, (3) research questions about implementation determinants, (4) research questions about implementation strategies, and (5) research questions about methods/measures. RESULTS Of 160 eligible researchers, 82 (51.2%) agreed to participate. Participants were predominantly female (90%) and White (75%). Sixty completed at least one of two surveys. The practices that participants prioritized for broader implementation were improved postpartum care, perinatal and postpartum mood disorder screening and management, and standardized management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. For de-implementation, practices believed to be most impactful if removed from or reduced in maternity care were cesarean delivery for low-risk patients and routine discontinuation of all psychiatric medications during pregnancy. The top methodological priorities of participants were improving the extent to which implementation science frameworks and measures address equity and developing approaches for involving patients in implementation research. CONCLUSIONS Through a web-based Delphi exercise, we identified implementation research priorities that researchers consider to have the greatest potential to improve the quality of maternity care in the USA. This study also demonstrates the feasibility of using modified Delphi approaches to engage researchers in setting implementation research priorities within a clinical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Hamm
- Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michelle H Moniz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Inaya Wahid
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel Blankstein Breman
- Department of Partnerships, Professional Education and Practice, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer A Callaghan-Koru
- Office of Community Health and Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Springdale, AR, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
- Center for Implementation Research, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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Gao X, Snowden JM, Tucker CM, Allen A, Morello-Frosch R, Abrams B, Carmichael SL, Mujahid MS. Remapping racial and ethnic inequities in severe maternal morbidity: The legacy of redlining in California. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2023; 37:379-389. [PMID: 36420897 PMCID: PMC10373920 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Historical mortgage redlining, a racially discriminatory policy designed to uphold structural racism, may have played a role in producing the persistently elevated rate of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) among racialised birthing people. OBJECTIVE This study examined associations between Home-Owner Loan Corporation (HOLC) redlining grades and SMM in a racially and ethnically diverse birth cohort in California. METHODS We leveraged a population-based cohort of all live hospital births at ≥20 weeks of gestation between 1997 and 2017 in California. SMM was defined as having one of 21 procedures and diagnoses, per an index developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We characterised census tract-level redlining using HOLC's security maps for eight California cities. We assessed bivariate associations between HOLC grades and participant characteristics. Race and ethnicity-stratified mixed effects logistic regression models assessed the risk of SMM associated with HOLC grades within non-Hispanic Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native and Hispanic groups, adjusting for sociodemographic information, pregnancy-related factors, co-morbidities and neighbourhood deprivation index. RESULTS The study sample included 2,020,194 births, with 24,579 cases of SMM (1.2%). Living in a census tract that was graded as "Hazardous," compared to census tracts graded "Best" and "Still Desirable," was associated with 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 1.29) and 1.17 (95% CI 1.09, 1.25) times the risk of SMM among Black and Hispanic birthing people, respectively, independent of sociodemographic factors. These associations persisted after adjusting for pregnancy-related factors and neighbourhood deprivation index. CONCLUSIONS Historical redlining, a tool of structural racism that influenced the trajectory of neighbourhood social and material conditions, is associated with increased risk of experiencing SMM among Black and Hispanic birthing people in California. These findings demonstrate that addressing the enduring impact of macro-level and systemic mechanisms that uphold structural racism is a vital step in achieving racial and ethnic equity in birthing people's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Gao
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Snowden
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Curisa M. Tucker
- Division of Neonatal & Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Amani Allen
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, California, Berkeley, USA
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Barbara Abrams
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, California, Berkeley, USA
- Division of Maternal Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Division of Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Suzan L. Carmichael
- Division of Neonatal & Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Mahasin S. Mujahid
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, California, Berkeley, USA
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Reid CN, Obure R, Salemi JL, Ilonzo C, Louis J, Rubio E, Sappenfield WM. Race and Ethnicity Misclassification in Hospital Discharge Data and the Impact on Differences in Severe Maternal Morbidity Rates in Florida. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:ijerph20095689. [PMID: 37174207 PMCID: PMC10178402 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Hospital discharge (HD) records contain important information that is used in public health and health care sectors. It is becoming increasingly common to rely mostly or exclusively on HD data to assess and monitor severe maternal morbidity (SMM) overall and by sociodemographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity. Limited studies have validated race and ethnicity in HD or provided estimates on the impact of assessing health differences in maternity populations. This study aims to determine the differences in race and ethnicity reporting between HD and birth certificate (BC) data for maternity hospitals in Florida and to estimate the impact of race and ethnicity misclassification on state- and hospital-specific SMM rates. We conducted a population-based retrospective study of live births using linked BC and HD records from 2016 to 2019 (n = 783,753). BC data were used as the gold standard. Race and ethnicity were categorized as non-Hispanic (NH)-White, NH-Black, Hispanic, NH-Asian Pacific Islander (API), and NH-American Indian or Alaskan Native (AIAN). Overall, race and ethnicity misclassification and its impact on SMM at the state- and hospital levels were estimated. At the state level, NH-AIAN women were the most misclassified (sensitivity: 28.2%; positive predictive value (PPV): 25.2%) and were commonly classified as NH-API (30.3%) in HD records. NH-API women were the next most misclassified (sensitivity: 57.3%; PPV: 85.4%) and were commonly classified as NH-White (5.8%) or NH-other (5.5%). At the hospital level, wide variation in sensitivity and PPV with negative skewing was identified, particularly for NH-White, Hispanic, and NH-API women. Misclassification did not result in large differences in SMM rates at the state level for all race and ethnicity categories except for NH-AIAN women (% difference 78.7). However, at the hospital level, Hispanic women had wide variability of a percent difference in SMM rates and were more likely to have underestimated SMM rates. Reducing race and ethnicity misclassification on HD records is key in assessing and addressing SMM differences and better informing surveillance, research, and quality improvement efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinyere N Reid
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Renice Obure
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jason L Salemi
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Chinwendu Ilonzo
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Judette Louis
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Estefania Rubio
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - William M Sappenfield
- Chiles Center, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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11
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Palatnik A, McGee P, Bailit JL, Wapner RJ, Varner MW, Thorp JM, Caritis SN, Prasad M, Tita ATN, Saade GR, Rouse DJ, Blackwell SC. The Association of Race and Ethnicity with Severe Maternal Morbidity among Individuals Diagnosed with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Am J Perinatol 2023; 40:453-460. [PMID: 35764308 PMCID: PMC9794629 DOI: 10.1055/a-1886-5404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine whether there are racial disparities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of an observational study of 115,502 patients who had a live birth at ≥20 weeks in 25 hospitals in the United States from 2008 to 2011. Only patients with HDP were included in this analysis. Race and ethnicity were categorized as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic and were abstracted from the medical charts. Patients of other races and ethnicities were excluded. Associations were estimated between race and ethnicity, and the primary outcome of SMM, defined as any of the following, was estimated by unadjusted logistic and multivariable backward logistic regressions: blood transfusion ≥4 units, unexpected surgical procedure, need for a ventilator ≥12 hours, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or failure of ≥1 organ system. Multivariable models were run classifying HDP into three levels as follows: (1) gestational hypertension; (2) preeclampsia (mild, severe, or superimposed); and (3) eclampsia or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) syndrome. RESULTS A total of 9,612 individuals with HDP met inclusion criteria. No maternal deaths occurred in this cohort. In univariable analysis, non-Hispanic White patients were more likely to present with gestational hypertension whereas NHB and Hispanic patients were more likely to present with preeclampsia. The frequency of the primary outcome, composite SMM, was higher in NHB patients compared with that in non-Hispanic White or Hispanic patients (11.8 vs. 4.5% in non-Hispanic White and 4.8% in Hispanic, p < 0.001). This difference was driven by a higher frequency of blood transfusions and ICU admissions among NHB individuals. Prior to adjusting the analysis for confounding factors, the odds ratio (OR) of primary composite outcomes in NHB individuals was 2.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.38, 3.42) compared with non-Hispanic White. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors, hospital site, and the severity of HDP, the OR of composite SMM did not differ between the groups (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.67 for NHB, and aOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.77 for Hispanic, compared with non-Hispanic White patients). Sensitivity analysis was done to exclude one single site that was an outliner with the highest ICU admissions and demonstrated no difference in ICU admission by maternal race and ethnicity. CONCLUSION NHB patients with HDP had higher rates of the composite SMM compared with non-Hispanic White patients, driven mainly by a higher frequency of blood transfusions and ICU admissions. However, once severity and other confounding factors were taken into account, the differences did not persist. KEY POINTS · Black patients with HDP had higher frequency of SMM compared with non-Hispanic White patients.. · The SMM disparities were driven by blood transfusions and ICU admissions.. · After adjustment for confounders, including HDP severity, the significant difference in SMM did not persist..
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Palatnik
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Paula McGee
- George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Jennifer L Bailit
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, MetroHealth Medical Center-Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ronald J Wapner
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Michael W Varner
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - John M Thorp
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Steve N Caritis
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mona Prasad
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Alan T N Tita
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - George R Saade
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Dwight J Rouse
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Sean C Blackwell
- Division of maternal fetal medicine, Department of obstetrics and gynecology, McGovern Medical School-Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
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12
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Orós M, Siscart J, Perejón D, Serna MC, Godoy P, Salinas-Roca B. Ethnic Disparities and Obesity Risk Factors in Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15040926. [PMID: 36839284 PMCID: PMC9961767 DOI: 10.3390/nu15040926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: This article focuses on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in pregnancy in different ethnic groups and assesses the existence of associated comorbidities. (2) Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study of 16803 pregnant women was carried out between 2012 and 2018 in the health region of Lleida (72% of the total). The relationship between overweight and obesity and different variables was analyzed by calculating the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals with multivariate logistic regression models. (3) Results: The prevalence of obesity in pregnant women rose from 11.1% in 2012 to 13.4% in 2018, and there was an age-related weight gain. A high incidence of overweight and obesity was recorded in pregnant women from ethnic groups: Maghrebi, sub-Saharan African and Latin America populations presented ORs of 4.08, 3.18 and 1.59, respectively. Hypertension was the variable most affected by body mass index (BMI) > 25 (OR = 3.39) followed by gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.35). Depression was also associated with obesity. (4) Conclusions: The BMI of pregnant women is influenced by individual, ethnic and clinical factors. Mental health conditions such as depression are associated with BMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Orós
- Family Medicine Department, University of Lleida, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Primary Care Research Institute IDIAP Jordi Gol, Catalan Institute of Health, CP 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Therapeutic Research Group in Primary Care (GRETAP), Catalan Institute of Health, CP 25007 Lleida, Spain
- Cambrils Health Center, CP 43850 Cambrils, Spain
| | - Júlia Siscart
- Family Medicine Department, University of Lleida, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Primary Care Research Institute IDIAP Jordi Gol, Catalan Institute of Health, CP 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Therapeutic Research Group in Primary Care (GRETAP), Catalan Institute of Health, CP 25007 Lleida, Spain
- Serós Health Center, Catalan Institute of Health, PC 25183 Lleida, Spain
| | - Daniel Perejón
- Family Medicine Department, University of Lleida, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Primary Care Research Institute IDIAP Jordi Gol, Catalan Institute of Health, CP 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- Therapeutic Research Group in Primary Care (GRETAP), Catalan Institute of Health, CP 25007 Lleida, Spain
- Cervera Health Center, Catalan Institute of Health, PC 25200 Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria Catalina Serna
- Family Medicine Department, University of Lleida, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Primary Care Research Institute IDIAP Jordi Gol, Catalan Institute of Health, CP 08007 Barcelona, Spain
- School of Medicine, Lleida University, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Eixample Health Center, Catalan Institute of Health, PC 25006 Lleida, Spain
| | - Pere Godoy
- School of Medicine, Lleida University, PC 25003 Lleida, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Biomédica (IRBLleida), PC 25198 Lleida, Spain
- CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto Carlos III, PC 28005 Madrid, Spain
| | - Blanca Salinas-Roca
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Lleida, Montserrat Roig 2, PC 25198 Lleida, Spain
- Grow-Global Research on Wellbeing (GRoW) Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Ramon Llull University, Padilla, 326-332, PC 08025 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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13
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Hailu EM, Carmichael SL, Berkowitz RL, Snowden JM, Lyndon A, Main E, Mujahid MS. Racial/ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity: An intersectional lifecourse approach. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1518:239-248. [PMID: 36166238 PMCID: PMC11019852 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite long-existing calls to address alarming racial/ethnic gaps in severe maternal morbidity (SMM), research that considers the impact of intersecting social inequities on SMM risk remains scarce. Invoking intersectionality theory, we sought to assess SMM risk at the nexus of racial/ethnic marginalization, weathering, and neighborhood/individual socioeconomic disadvantage. We used birth hospitalization records from California across 20 years (1997-2017, N = 9,806,406) on all live births ≥20 weeks gestation. We estimated adjusted average predicted probabilities of SMM at the combination of levels of race/ethnicity, age, and neighborhood deprivation or individual socioeconomic status (SES). The highest risk of SMM was observed among Black birthing people aged ≥35 years who either resided in the most deprived neighborhoods or had the lowest SES. Black birthing people conceptualized to be better off due to their social standing (aged 20-34 years and living in the least deprived neighborhoods or college graduates) had comparable and at times worse risk than White birthing people conceptualized to be worse off (aged ≥35 years and living in the most deprived neighborhoods or had a high-school degree or less). Our findings highlight the need to explicitly address structural racism as the driver of racial/ethnic health inequities and the imperative to incorporate intersectional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elleni M Hailu
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Suzan L Carmichael
- Division of Neonatal & Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, USA
| | - Rachel L Berkowitz
- Department of Public Health and Recreation, College of Health and Human Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, California, USA
| | - Jonathan M Snowden
- School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Audrey Lyndon
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elliott Main
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Mahasin S Mujahid
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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Venkatesh KK, Lynch CD, Grobman WA. Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among US Individuals With Gestational Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity-Reply. JAMA 2022; 328:397-398. [PMID: 35881127 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.9415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kartik K Venkatesh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Courtney D Lynch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - William A Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Healthcare disparities are health differences that adversely affect disadvantaged populations. In the United States, research shows that women of color, in particular Black and Hispanic women and their offspring, experience disproportionately higher mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This review highlights recent population health sciences and comparative effectiveness research that discuss racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and perinatal outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Epidemiological research confirms the presence of maternal and neonatal disparities in national and multistate database analysis. These disparities are associated with geographical variations, hospital characteristics and practice patterns, and patient demographics and comorbidities. Proposed solutions include expanded perinatal insurance coverage, increased maternal healthcare public funding, and quality improvement initiatives/efforts that promote healthcare protocols and practice standardization. SUMMARY Obstetrical healthcare disparities are persistent, prevalent, and complex and are associated with systemic racism and social determinants of health. Some of the excess disparity gap can be explained through community-, hospital-, provider-, and patient-level factors. Providers and healthcare organizations should be mindful of these disparities and strive to promote healthcare justice and patient equity. Several solutions provide promise in closing this gap, but much effort remains.
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Brignoni-Pérez E, Scala M, Feldman HM, Marchman VA, Travis KE. Disparities in Kangaroo Care for Premature Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2022; 43:e304-e311. [PMID: 34723932 PMCID: PMC9046459 DOI: 10.1097/dbp.0000000000001029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate whether preterm infants whose families have lower socioeconomic status (SES) or communicate with clinical staff in a language other than English experience differences in the rate, frequency, and duration of kangaroo care (KC) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) compared with preterm infants of higher SES or primarily English-speaking families. METHODS Participants were infants born <32 weeks' gestational age (GA), N = 116. We defined SES by the infants' health insurance (private/higher vs public/lower) and language by the language mothers used to communicate with clinical staff (English vs Other language). SES or language groups were compared on (1) rate of KC infants experienced during hospitalization per visitation days, (2) frequency of KC per visitation days, and (3) duration of KC events per day. RESULTS Infants in the lower SES and Other language groups experienced KC in reduced amounts, lower frequencies, and shorter durations than infants in either the higher SES or English language groups. SES and language group differences remained significant after controlling for family visitation and GA at birth. After controlling for SES, language group differences in KC duration remained significant. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed disparities in the rate, frequency, and duration of KC experienced in the NICU as a function of both SES and language. Such disparities reduced infants' access to this developmental care practice shown to stabilize clinical status and promote neurodevelopment. We recommend that hospital nurseries implement policies that minimize these disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Brignoni-Pérez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Melissa Scala
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Heidi M. Feldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Katherine E. Travis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Lagon EP, Mitchell C, Bryant AC, Bibbo C. The Inequity Inbox: a model for addressing bias in the clinical environment. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2022; 4:100666. [PMID: 35605933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elena P Lagon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA.
| | - Caroline Mitchell
- Vincent Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Allison C Bryant
- Vincent Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Carolina Bibbo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
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18
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Phibbs CM, Kozhimannil KB, Leonard SA, Lorch SA, Main EK, Schmitt SK, Phibbs CS. The effect of severe maternal morbidity on infant costs and lengths of stay. J Perinatol 2022; 42:611-6. [PMID: 35184145 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-022-01343-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and infant health using the additional infant costs and length of stay (LOS) as markers of added clinical complexity. STUDY DESIGN Secondary data analysis using California linked birth certificate-patient discharge data for 2009-2011 (N = 1,260,457). Regression models were used to estimate the association between SMM and infant costs and LOS. RESULTS The 16,687 SMM-exposed infants experienced a $6550 (33%) increase in costs and a 0.7 (18%) day increase in LOS. Preterm infants had ($11,258 (18%) added costs and 1.3 days (8.1%) longer LOS) than term infants ($2539 (38%) added costs and 0.5 days (22%) longer LOS). CONCLUSIONS SMM was associated with increased infant costs and LOS, suggesting that SMM may have adverse health effects for infants, including term infants. The relatively larger effect on costs indicates an increase in treatment intensity (clinical severity) greater than additional LOS.
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Venkatesh KK, Lynch CD, Powe CE, Costantine MM, Thung SF, Gabbe SG, Grobman WA, Landon MB. Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among Pregnant Individuals With Gestational Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity in the United States, 2014-2020. JAMA 2022; 327:1356-1367. [PMID: 35412565 PMCID: PMC9006108 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.3189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Gestational diabetes, which increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, has been increasing in frequency across all racial and ethnic subgroups in the US. OBJECTIVE To assess whether the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes among those in the US with gestational diabetes changed over time and whether the risk of these outcomes differed by maternal race and ethnicity. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Exploratory serial, cross-sectional, descriptive study using US National Center for Health Statistics natality data for 1 560 822 individuals with gestational diabetes aged 15 to 44 years with singleton nonanomalous live births from 2014 to 2020 in the US. EXPOSURES Year of delivery and race and ethnicity, as reported on the birth certificate, stratified as non-Hispanic American Indian, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic/Latina, and non-Hispanic White (reference group). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Maternal outcomes of interest included cesarean delivery, primary cesarean delivery, preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and transfusion; neonatal outcomes included large for gestational age (LGA), macrosomia (>4000 g at birth), small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth, and neonatal ICU (NICU) admission, as measured by the frequency (per 1000 live births) with estimation of mean annual percentage change (APC), disparity ratios, and adjusted risk ratios. RESULTS Of 1 560 822 included pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes (mean [SD] age, 31 [5.5] years), 1% were American Indian, 13% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 12% were Black, 27% were Hispanic/Latina, and 48% were White. From 2014 to 2020, there was a statistically significant increase in the overall frequency (mean APC per year) of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension (4.2% [95% CI, 3.3% to 5.2%]), transfusion (8.0% [95% CI, 3.8% to 12.4%]), preterm birth at less than 37 weeks (0.9% [95% CI, 0.3% to 1.5%]), and NICU admission (1.0% [95% CI, 0.3% to 1.7%]). There was a significant decrease in cesarean delivery (-1.4% [95% CI, -1.7% to -1.1%]), primary cesarean delivery (-1.2% [95% CI, -1.5% to -0.9%]), LGA (-2.3% [95% CI, -2.8% to -1.8%]), and macrosomia (-4.7% [95% CI, -5.3% to -4.0%]). There was no significant change in maternal ICU admission and SGA. In comparison with White individuals, Black individuals were at significantly increased risk of all assessed outcomes, except LGA and macrosomia; American Indian individuals were at significantly increased risk of all assessed outcomes except cesarean delivery and SGA; and Hispanic/Latina and Asian/Pacific Islander individuals were at significantly increased risk of maternal ICU admission, preterm birth, NICU admission, and SGA. Differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity persisted through these years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE From 2014 through 2020, the frequency of multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes in the US increased among pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes. Differences in adverse outcomes by race and ethnicity persisted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik K. Venkatesh
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Courtney D. Lynch
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Camille E. Powe
- Departments of Medicine and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Maged M. Costantine
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Stephen F. Thung
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Steven G. Gabbe
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - William A. Grobman
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Mark B. Landon
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
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Liu J, Pang EM, Iacob A, Simonian A, Phibbs CS, Profit J. Evaluating Care in Safety Net Hospitals: Clinical Outcomes and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Quality of Care in California. J Pediatr 2022; 243:99-106.e3. [PMID: 34890584 PMCID: PMC8960349 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the characteristics of safety net (sn) and non-sn neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in California and evaluate whether the site of care is associated with clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN This population-based retrospective cohort study of 34 snNICUs and 104 non-snNICUs included 22 081 infants born between 2014 and 2018 with a birth weight of 401-1500 g or gestational age of 22-29 weeks. Quality of care as measured by the Baby-MONITOR score and rates of survival without major morbidity were compared between snNICUs and non-snNICUs. RESULTS Black and Hispanic infants were cared for disproportionately in snNICUs, where care and outcomes varied widely. We found no significant differences in Baby-Measure Of Neonatal InTensive care Outcomes Research (MONITOR) scores (z-score [SD]: snNICUs, -0.31 [1.3]; non-snNICUs, 0.03 [1.1]; P = .1). Among individual components, infants in snNICUs exhibited lower rates of human milk nutrition at discharge (-0.64 [1.0] vs 0.27 [0.9]), lower rates of no health care-associated infection (-0.27 [1.1] vs 0.14 [0.9]), and higher rates of no hypothermia on admission (0.39 [0.7] vs -0.25 [1.1]). We found small but significant differences in survival without major morbidity (adjusted rate, 65.9% [95% CI, 63.9%-67.9%] for snNICUs vs 68.3% [95% CI, 67.0%-69.6%] for non-snNICUs; P = .02) and in some of its components; snNICUs had higher rates of necrotizing enterocolitis (3.8% [3.4%-4.3%] vs 3.1% [95% CI, 2.8%-3.4%]) and mortality (95% CI, 7.1% [6.5%-7.7%] vs 6.6% [6.2%-7.0%]). CONCLUSIONS snNICUs achieved similar performance as non-snNICUs in quality of care except for small but significant differences in any human milk at discharge, infection, hypothermia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Liu
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA,California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Emily M. Pang
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Alexandra Iacob
- California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA,Division of Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA
| | - Aida Simonian
- California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA,Health Economics Resource Center and Center for Implementation to Innovation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Menlo Park, CA
| | - Jochen Profit
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Perinatal Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Research Unit, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Palo Alto, CA.
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21
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Erickson EN, Carlson NS. Maternal Morbidity Predicted by an Intersectional Social Determinants of Health Phenotype: A Secondary Analysis of the NuMoM2b Dataset. Reprod Sci 2022; 29:2013-2029. [PMID: 35312992 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00913-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Maternal race, ethnicity and socio-economic position are known to be associated with increased risk for a range of poor pregnancy outcomes, including maternal morbidity and mortality. Previously, researchers seeking to identify the contributing factors focused on maternal behaviors and pregnancy complications. Less understood is the contribution of the social determinants of health (SDoH) in observed differences by race/ethnicity in these key outcomes. In this secondary analysis of the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) dataset, latent mixture modeling was used to construct groups of healthy, nulliparous participants with a non-anomalous fetus in a cephalic presentation having a trial of labor (N = 5763) based on SDoH variables. The primary outcome was a composite score of postpartum maternal morbidity. A postpartum maternal morbidity event was experienced by 350 individuals (6.1%). Latent class analysis using SDoH variables revealed six groups of participants, with postpartum maternal morbidity rates ranging from 8.7% to 4.5% across groups (p < 0.001). Two SDoH groups had the highest odds for maternal morbidity. These higher-risk groups were comprised of participants with the lowest income and highest stress and those who had lived in the USA for the shortest periods of time. SDoH phenotype predicted MM outcomes and identified two important, yet distinct groups of pregnant people who were the most likely have a maternal morbidity event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise N Erickson
- Oregon Health & Sciences University School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Nicole S Carlson
- Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, GA, USA
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22
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Mehta LS, Sharma G, Creanga AA, Hameed AB, Hollier LM, Johnson JC, Leffert L, McCullough LD, Mujahid MS, Watson K, White CJ. Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2021; 144:e251-e269. [PMID: 34493059 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause. Therefore, the American Heart Association has a unique role in advocating for efforts to improve maternal health and to enhance access to and delivery of care before, during, and after pregnancy. Several initiatives have shaped the time course of major milestones in advancing maternal and reproductive health equity in the United States. There have been significant strides in improving the timeliness of data reporting in maternal mortality surveillance and epidemiological programs in maternal and child health, yet more policy reforms are necessary. To make a sustainable and systemic impact on maternal health, further efforts are necessary at the societal, institutional, stakeholder, and regulatory levels to address the racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health, to effectively reduce inequities in care, and to mitigate maternal morbidity and mortality. In alignment with American Heart Association's mission "to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives," this policy statement outlines the inequities that influence disparities in maternal outcomes and current policy approaches to improving maternal health and suggests additional potentially impactful actions to improve maternal outcomes and ultimately save mothers' lives.
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McGregor AJ, Hung P, Garman D, Amutah-Onukagha N, Cooper JA. Obstetrical unit closures and racial and ethnic differences in severe maternal morbidity in the state of New Jersey. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021; 3:100480. [PMID: 34496307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality are pronounced and persistent. Although the maternal mortality ratio and the severe maternal morbidity rates have increased over the past 30 years, the number of obstetrical units in the country has simultaneously diminished. Black women are 3 times more likely to die during childbirth than White women and twice as likely to suffer severe maternal morbidity (or a near miss). Between 2003 and 2013, 366 (10%) obstetrical units closed, and rural obstetrical unit closures were more likely in the Black communities. The state of New Jersey has the highest Black maternal mortality rate (131.8/100,000 live births) of all states reporting these data. Very few studies have examined the role that urban obstetrical unit closures play in racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. OBJECTIVE To analyze racial differences in severe maternal morbidity in New Jersey hospitals among women experiencing the loss of their nearest obstetrical unit during the years 2006-2015. STUDY DESIGN This study used data on all births in New Jersey hospitals (2006-2015) by women living in ZIP code tabulation areas that lost their nearest obstetrical unit during that period. Severe maternal morbidity was measured using a composite variable for severe illness during hospitalizations (eg, acute heart failure, acute renal disease, disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis) identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between race and ethnicity on the individual likelihood of severe maternal morbidity, adjusting for annual trends, individual socioeconomic characteristics, age, preexisting conditions, and delivery hospital characteristics (ie, percentage of Black patients >25% [Black-serving hospital] and percentage of Medicaid discharges in the delivery obstetrical unit). RESULTS There were 227,412 delivery hospitalizations among women who lived in the 124 New Jersey ZIP code tabulation areas that lost the nearest obstetrical unit from 2006 to 2015. Black women had the highest severe maternal morbidity rates, increasing from 1.2% in 2006 to 2.3% in 2015. The Black-White gap remained similar in magnitude over the period, as White women's severe maternal morbidity rates increased from 0.7% to 1.4%. However, for Hispanic women, the severe maternal morbidity increased dramatically from 0.7% in 2006 to 2.4% in 2013, followed by a decreasing trend during 2013-2015. When adjusting for individual factors, the odds of severe maternal morbidity among all women was greater if they delivered after the loss of the nearest obstetrical unit (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-1.86). Hispanic women experienced the greatest increase in severe maternal morbidity, regardless of whether they delivered before or after the closure of their nearest obstetrical unit. For all women, delivering in a Black-serving obstetrical unit was associated with a greater likelihood of individual severe maternal morbidity (adjusted odds ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.56). CONCLUSION Racial and ethnic disparities in severe maternal morbidity persist and might be exacerbated by nearby obstetrical unit closures. In New Jersey ZIP codes with obstetrical unit loss, the Hispanic-White gap in the severe maternal morbidity widened substantially, and the rates were also higher among women who delivered in Black-serving hospitals. Policymakers should take steps to prevent obstetrical unit closures and to ensure that the resources available at Black-serving obstetrical units are at least on par with those of other institutions.
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24
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elliott Main
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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25
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Merkt PT, Kramer MR, Goodman DA, Brantley MD, Barrera CM, Eckhaus L, Petersen EE. Urban-rural differences in pregnancy-related deaths, United States, 2011-2016. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021; 225:183.e1-183.e16. [PMID: 33640361 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The US pregnancy-related mortality ratio has not improved over the past decade and includes striking disparities by race and ethnicity and by state. Understanding differences in pregnancy-related mortality across and within urban and rural areas can guide the development of interventions for preventing future pregnancy-related deaths. OBJECTIVE We sought to compare pregnancy-related mortality across and within urban and rural counties by race and ethnicity and age. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a descriptive analysis of 3747 pregnancy-related deaths during 2011-2016 (the most recent available data) with available zone improvement plan code or county data in the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System, among Hispanic and non-Hispanic White, Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander women aged 15 to 44 years. We aggregated data by US county and grouped counties per the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties. We used R statistical software, epitools, to calculate the pregnancy-related mortality ratio (number of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births) for each urban-rural grouping, obtain 95% confidence intervals, and perform exact tests of ratio comparisons using the Poisson distribution. RESULTS Of the total 3747 pregnancy-related deaths analyzed, 52% occurred in large metro counties, and 7% occurred in noncore (rural) counties. Large metro counties had the lowest pregnancy-related mortality ratio (14.8; 95% confidence interval, 14.2-15.5), whereas noncore counties had the highest (24.1; 95% confidence interval, 21.4-27.1), including race and ethnicity and age groups. Pregnancy-related mortality ratio age disparities increased with rurality. Women aged 25 to 34 years and 35 to 44 years living in noncore counties had pregnancy-related mortality ratios 1.5 and 3 times higher, respectively, than women of the same age groups in large metro counties. Within each urban-rural category, pregnancy-related mortality ratios were higher among non-Hispanic Black women than non-Hispanic White women. Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native pregnancy-related mortality ratios in small metro, micropolitan, and noncore counties were 2 to 3 times that of non-Hispanic White women in the same areas. CONCLUSION Although more than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred in large metro counties, the pregnancy-related mortality ratio rose with increasing rurality. Disparities existed in urban-rural categories, including by age group and race and ethnicity. Geographic location is an important context for initiatives to prevent future deaths and eliminate disparities. Further research is needed to better understand reasons for the observed urban-rural differences and to guide a multifactorial response to reduce pregnancy-related deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter T Merkt
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
| | - Michael R Kramer
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - David A Goodman
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Mary D Brantley
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Chloe M Barrera
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Lindsay Eckhaus
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Emily E Petersen
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Guglielminotti J, Wong CA, Friedman AM, Li G. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Death Associated With Severe Maternal Morbidity in the United States: Failure to Rescue. Obstet Gynecol 2021; 137:791-800. [PMID: 33831938 DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze racial and ethnic disparities in failure to rescue (ie, death) associated with severe maternal morbidity and describe temporal trends. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study using administrative data. Data for delivery hospitalizations with severe maternal morbidity, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were abstracted from the 1999-2017 National Inpatient Sample. Race and ethnicity were categorized into non-Hispanic White (reference), non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, other, and missing. The outcome was failure to rescue from severe maternal morbidity. Disparities were assessed using the failure-to-rescue rate ratio (ratio of the failure-to-rescue rate in the racial and minority group to the failure-to-rescue rate in White women), adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics. Temporal trends in severe maternal morbidity and failure to rescue were assessed. RESULTS During the study period, 73,934,559 delivery hospitalizations were identified, including 993,864 with severe maternal morbidity (13.4/1,000; 95% CI 13.3-13.5). Among women with severe maternal morbidity, 4,328 died (4.3/1,000; 95% CI 4.2-4.5). The adjusted failure-to-rescue rate ratio was 1.79 (95% CI 1.77-1.81) for Black women, 1.39 (95% CI 1.37-1.41) for women of other race and ethnicity, 1.43 (95% CI 1.42-1.45) for women with missing race and ethnicity data, and 1.08 (95% CI 1.06-1.09) for Hispanic women. During the study period, the severe maternal morbidity rate increased significantly in each of the five racial and ethnic groups but started declining in 2012. Meanwhile, the failure-to-rescue rate decreased significantly during the entire study period. CONCLUSION Despite improvement over time, failure to rescue from severe maternal morbidity remains a major contributing factor to excess maternal mortality in racial and ethnic minority women.
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Lorch SA, Rogowski J, Profit J, Phibbs CS. Access to risk-appropriate hospital care and disparities in neonatal outcomes in racial/ethnic groups and rural-urban populations. Semin Perinatol 2021; 45:151409. [PMID: 33931237 PMCID: PMC8184635 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2021.151409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Variations in infant and neonatal mortality continue to persist in the United States and in other countries based on both socio-demographic characteristics, such as race and ethnicity, and geographic location. One potential driver of these differences is variations in access to risk-appropriate delivery care. The purpose of this article is to present the importance of delivery hospitals on neonatal outcomes, discuss variation in access to these hospitals for high-risk infants and their mothers, and to provide insight into drivers for differences in access to high-quality perinatal care using the available literature. This review also illustrates the lack of information on a number of topics that are crucial to the development of evidence-based interventions to improve access to appropriate delivery hospital services and thus optimize the outcomes of high-risk mothers and their newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Lorch
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Neonatology,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
| | | | - Jochen Profit
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal Medicine
| | - Ciaran S. Phibbs
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal Medicine,Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System
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