Healthcare system variability and inpatient maternal mortality in the United States

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

7-12-2024

Journal

Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine

DOI

10.3233/NPM-240025

Keywords

Economic disparities; healthcare services delivery; hospital academic status; hospital locality within U.S. geographical regions; hospital rural/urban designation; hospital size; inpatient maternal mortality; insurance coverage; maternal mortality; postpartum hemorrhage and racial disparities; puerperal sepsis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of inpatient maternal mortality with variability in healthcare services delivery such as hospital size, urban/rural designation, teaching/non-teaching status, regional location, and insurance coverage. METHODS: This is a pooled, cross-sectional analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (2012-2014). Information on maternal demographics, clinical conditions, and birth outcomes were identified using respective ICD9-CM codes. Bivariate and multivariate analysis using logistic regression models were used to describe maternal characteristics and to calculate the risk of mortality with each independent variable. RESULTS: The weighted sample included 12,409,939 hospital records (82.6% are 18-34-year-old and 49.5% are Caucasians). Maternal death during hospitalization occurred in 1310 cases (12/100,000 live birth). Women with cardiovascular disorders, hemorrhage or sepsis were 33.6, 4.7, and 5.4 times more likely to suffer inpatient maternal mortality. Compared to small-sized hospitals, delivery at medium or large size hospitals is associated with higher mortality, adjusted odds ratios (aOR) 1.8 (1.4-2.3), and 2.2 (1.8-2.8), respectively. Adjusted OR for inpatient maternal mortality in urban non-teaching or urban teaching compared to rural hospitals were 2.2 (1.7-3.0) and 2.9 (2.2-3.9), respectively. Women in the South have higher maternal mortality compared to Northeast, aOR 1.7 (1.5-2.1). Women coved with public insurance experience higher inpatient maternal mortality compared to those with private insurance, aOR: 2.6 (2.1-3.2) and 1.9 (1.6-2.1), respectively. CONCLUSION: Factors related to variability in healthcare delivery may play a role in inpatient maternal mortality. Some could be explained by the case mix and the clinical conditions affecting birthing outcomes. A qualitative analysis is needed to explore how these factors relate to increased maternal mortality in certain hospital settings.

Department

Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

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