Northwestern Medicine’s new study reveals that maternal complications and severe health problems are on the rise from 2016-2023 in Illinois. These issues include high blood pressure and gestational diabetic disorders, as well as mental health disorders, and obesity. Obesity rates have seen the biggest increase. This study highlights both racial disparities and socioeconomic differences. It found that non-Hispanic Black women faced more severe complications than non-Hispanic White mothers. Living in areas of high poverty also increased maternal health risks for all races. “19659002” said Dr. Mugdha, resident physician of obstetrics & gynecology McGaw medical Center Northwestern. She added that the findings
reflect national trends demonstrating an increasing prevalence of obesity, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and gestational diabetic in pregnant women of all ages. This study contains the latest data available on the maternal morbidity in Illinois and the delivery complications. The study was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology openon Nov. 21,
. Study co-author, Dr. Lynn Yee is an associate professor of maternal and fetal medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School and Northwestern Medicine. The findings are broken down as follows:
For the cohort study of 988480 births in 127 Illinois Hospitals between January 2016 and June 2023 the rate of severe morbidity in mothers increased from 1.4% to 2%. The rate of cesarean complications rose 48.9%, while vaginal complications increased by 22.4%.
Both hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and anemia, which both increased in the period of study, were important risk factors of severe maternal morbidity. From 2016 until the first half of 2023, obesity rates increased by a staggering 22.3%. There were also increases in the rates of gestational diabetics (4.2% to 5.5%), depression (2.5% – 6.6%), anxiety (3.1 % -10.4%), and other chronic conditions (4.7% -7.4%). Non-Hispanic Black Patients had a severe maternal morbidity (2.6%) rate that was more than twice as high (compared to non Hispanic white patients (1.1%). The importance of health counseling prior to pregnancy
As maternal health is a concern for almost all women, those who are considering pregnancy must consult their doctor to determine if they have any chronic illnesses.
“Pre-conception counseling is such an important way to make sure that all of your health conditions are optimized prior to pregnancy,” Mokashi said. It’s not because people are getting older. “There are many important policy and public health initiatives in Illinois that people may be interested in learning more about.”
Although not the initial goal of the study the scientists performed additional analyses that showed the increase in maternal health problems and birth complications are not due to the older people who are getting pregnant.
Although not the original purpose of the research, the researchers did an extra analysis which found the rise of these issues is not due solely to the older people becoming pregnant. These findings showed an increase of hospital codes for chronic illnesses, including obesity and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
“In brief, even young pregnant patients have more medical conditions and complications in pregnancy,” Mokashi said.
How can this be resolved? The study’s authors stated that policies for poverty reduction — like the House Bill 4917 in Illinois which would provide a refundable tax credit to children if it were passed — had improved maternal health.
California’s perinatal quality initiatives have helped reduce postpartum hemorrhage morbidity. The Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative, through its Promoting Vaginal Birth & Birth Equity initiative, is also working towards reducing cesareans. Mokashi added that increasing access to patient navigator and doula programs would be helpful. Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will adjust reimbursements for doula services in 2024. Northwestern University’s research into patient-navigator program has shown promising results in decreasing care disparities among low-income minority patients after delivery. At the federal level the passage of 13 bills that make up the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, re-introduced 2023, would provide crucial funding to increase data gathering and quality initiatives in prevention of maternal mortality.
