Racial Disparity in Postpartum Readmission due to Hypertension among Women with Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension

Author(s):  
Rebecca Chornock ◽  
Sara N. Iqbal ◽  
Tetsuya Kawakita

Abstract Objective Postpartum hypertension is a leading cause of readmission in the postpartum period. We aimed to examine the prevalence of racial/ethnic differences in postpartum readmission due to hypertension in women with antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension. Study Design This was a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of all women with antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension diagnosed prior to initial discharge from January 2009 to December 2016. Antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia (with or without severe features), hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme, low platelet (HELLP) syndrome, and eclampsia was diagnosed based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Task Force definitions. Women with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia were excluded. Our primary outcome was postpartum readmission defined as a readmission due to severe hypertension within 6 weeks of postpartum. Risk factors including maternal age, gestational age at admission, insurance, race/ethnicity (self-reported), type of antepartum pregnancy-associated hypertension, marital status, body mass index (kg/m2), diabetes (gestational or pregestational), use of antihypertensive medications, mode of delivery, and postpartum day 1 systolic blood pressure levels were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results Of 4,317 women with pregnancy-associated hypertension before initial discharge, 66 (1.5%) had postpartum readmission due to hypertension. Risk factors associated with postpartum readmission due to hypertension included older maternal age (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.20–1.73 for every 5 year increase) and non-Hispanic black race (aOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.16–3.87). Conclusion In women with pregnancy-associated hypertension before initial discharge, non-Hispanic black women were at increased odds of postpartum readmission due to hypertension compared with non-Hispanic white women.

Author(s):  
V. Meera Rajagopal ◽  
Kalpana Betha ◽  
Satya Priya G.

Background: New global health figures show India to have the highest rates of stillbirth in the world. While maternal and under 5 child mortality rates have halved, stillbirth remains a neglected global endemic. To reduce stillbirths, the prevalence, risk factors and causes must be known. The aim of the present study is to know the prevalence and classify stillbirths by ReCoDe classification system at different trimesters of pregnancy.Methods: This was a retrospective study done between January 2013 to March 2017 at MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences, a rural tertiary teaching hospital, Telangana, India. A total of 112 cases of stillbirths were included. Data was obtained on demographic variables, risk factors such as preeclampsia, etc. Data regarding mode of delivery, fetal asphyxia, were recorded.Results: Stillbirth rate was 12.1/1000 births. Fifty four percent of the women were unbooked. Preterm stillbirths were a majority (67%). The intra-partum still birth rate was low (15.1%) contrary to what is seen in low middle-income countries. Gestational hypertension/Pre-eclampsia, abruptio placenta, fetal growth restriction and oligohydramnios were the leading causes of stillbirths.Conclusions: Pregnant women from rural background with low socio-economic status are prone for stillbirths. As stillbirths were more among unbooked cases, the study highlights the importance of counselling, creating awareness in the rural areas regarding the importance of regular antenatal checkups. Identifying risk factors like pre-eclampsia, anemia etc., at early weeks will enable us to initiate appropriate strategies to improve pregnancy outcome.


Author(s):  
Laura A. Magee ◽  
Peter von Dadelszen

Pregnancy hypertension is associated with an estimated annual toll of 46,000 maternal and 2 million fetal, neonatal, and infant deaths. Over 99% of these deaths occur in less developed countries. The most dangerous form of pregnancy hypertension is pre-eclampsia, which, by international consensus, is defined more broadly than solely by proteinuric gestational hypertension to include markers of systemic target organ damage. Severe pre-eclampsia is defined by adverse features that mandate delivery irrespective of gestational age. There are numerous risk factors for pre-eclampsia and low-dose aspirin and, in women with low intake, calcium replacement appear to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia and its complications. Time-of-disease risk estimation for women and, to a lesser extent, their fetuses, is possible to guide personalized decision-making and counselling. Heavy proteinuria is not an indication for delivery. Severe pregnancy hypertension must be treated as a matter of urgency. For all women with pregnancy hypertension, blood pressure should be normalized. Magnesium sulphate is the treatment to prevent and treat the seizures of eclampsia. Beyond viability, expectant management of pregnancy hypertension should be offered until 36+6 weeks of pregnancy. Women with either pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension at more than 37+0 weeks should be offered induction, while induction should be offered to women with chronic hypertension at 38–39 weeks. Blood pressure reaches its maximal postpartum levels on days 3–6 postpartum. All forms of pregnancy hypertension are risk factors for premature cardiovascular disease and mortality, especially if associated with either fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and/or stillbirth.


Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (24) ◽  
pp. e3438-e3447
Author(s):  
Muzi Na ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Mengying Li ◽  
Stefanie N. Hinkle ◽  
Cuilin Zhang ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo determine whether the incidence and risk factors of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in pregnancy differ by race/ethnicity, we estimated relative risks of demographic, socioeconomic, and nutritional factors in association with risk of any incident RLS in pregnancy in a cohort of 2,704 healthy pregnant women without prior RLS.MethodsUsing data from the multicenter, multiracial National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons, we examined the incidence of RLS from early pregnancy to near delivery through up to 6 assessments. Multivariable Poisson models with robust variance were applied to estimate relative risks (RRs).ResultsThe cumulative incidence of RLS in pregnancy was 18.1% for all women, 20.3% for White women, 15.4% for Black women, 17.1% for Hispanic women, and 21.1% for Asian women. Among Hispanic women, older age (RR [reference ≤25 years]: 25–35 years, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–2.16; ≥35 years, 1.58; 95% CI 0.93–2.68), anemia (RR [reference no]: yes, 2.47; 95% CI 1.31–4.64), and greater total skinfolds of the subscapular and triceps sites, independent of body mass index (RR [reference quartile 1]: quartile 5, 2.54; 95% CI 1.30–4.97; p trend = 0.01) were associated with higher risk of RLS, while multiparity was associated with a lower risk (RR [reference nulliparity]: 0.69; 95% CI 0.50–0.96). In Black women, greater skinfolds and waist circumference were associated with higher risk of pregnancy RLS, although the trends were less clear.ConclusionsThe incidence of RLS in pregnancy was high and differed by race/ethnicity, which is likely accounted for by differences in other risk factors, such as age, parity, and nutritional factors.


1998 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 1040-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn T Gerhard ◽  
Gary Sexton ◽  
M.René Malinow ◽  
Rosemary C Wander ◽  
Sonja L Connor ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 765-765
Author(s):  
Wanhui Kang ◽  
Carrie Irvine ◽  
Eva Pressman ◽  
Kimberly O'Brien

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to characterize prevalence and determinants of anemia in a multiethnic cohort of pregnant women. Methods A retrospective medical chart review was undertaken of all deliveries occurring from 2011 to 2020 at Strong Memorial Hospital and Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. Among a total of 53,642 deliveries, 42,289 occurred to women with no underlying health complications. Anemia was defined using the CDC criteria as < 11g/dL in the first (T1) and third trimesters (T3) and < 10.5 g/dL in the second trimester (T2). Mean Hb concentration was compared between trimesters and racial groups by ANOVA and post-hoc pairwise comparisons. Relationships between prevalence of anemia by trimesters, racial groups, and BMI were examined by chi-square or t-tests. Logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the risk factors associated with anemia. Results Pregnant women had a mean age of 29.8 ± 5.5 y (range: 13−52 y) at delivery. The majority of women (66.8%) self-identified as white, 20.0% as black, 3.8% as Asian, and 9.4% as Other. Mean Hb concentrations significantly differed by trimester [12.6 ± 1.0, 11.5 ± 1.1, and 11.8 ± 1.3 g/dL in T1, T2 and T3, respectively, p < 0.001]. Mean Hb was significantly lower in black women in each trimester by -0.8 (T1), -0.7 (T2), and -1.0 g/dL (T3) compared to white women. White women had the highest Hb concentrations in T1 and T2 (12.8 ± 0.9, 11.8 ± 1.0 g/dL) while Asian women had the highest Hb concentrations in T3 (12.2 ± 1.2 g/dL, n = 1577, p < 0.001). The overall prevalence of anemia was 17.1%, which significantly increased across pregnancy [4.5% (T1), 16.4% (T2) and 25.2% (T3), p < 0.001]. Observed rates of anemia were higher than the estimated NHANES (1999–2006) prevalence in pregnant women. After stratifying by racial groups, higher BMI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of anemia in T2 and T3 only in black women and in those whose race was categorized as Other. Conclusions The prevalence of anemia was highest in black pregnant women in all trimesters, while it was lowest in white pregnant women in T1 and T2, and in Asians in T3. Risk factors associated with anemia included late gestation or self-reported race as black or Other. Funding Sources None.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Yang ◽  
H Chen ◽  
D Wei ◽  
I Janszky ◽  
N Roos ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A substantial body of evidence suggests that children exposed to maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) have increased risks of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and several cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, obesity, diabetes) later in life. However, the direct evidence on the link between maternal HDP and the risk of severe cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke in the offspring is very limited. Objective To investigate the associations between maternal HDP and the risk of IHD and stroke in the offspring. Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study by linking several national registers in Sweden and Finland. Live singleton births from the Swedish Medical Birth Register (1973–2014) and the Finnish Medical Birth Register (1987- 2014) were followed for IHD and stroke until 2014 by the national patient and cause of death registers. We performed Cox regression models to examine the association between maternal HDP and its subtypes, i.e., pre-existing chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia, and the risk of IHD, and stroke in the offspring while adjusting for relevant maternal and pregnancy-related confounders. We conducted sibling analyses to control for unmeasured shared familial (genetic and/or environmental) risk factors. Results Among the 5,807,122 singletons included in the study, 218,322 (3.76%) children were born to mothers with HDP. During the up to 41 years of follow-up, 2,340 (0.04%) offspring were diagnosed with IHD and 5,360 (0.09%) were diagnosed with stroke. Offspring exposed to maternal HDP had an increased risk of IHD (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.63), and stroke (aHR,1.33; 95% CI, 1.14–1.56). Significantly increased rates of stroke were also observed in children exposed to the subtypes of maternal HDP: pre-existing chronic hypertension (aHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.03–2.60), gestational hypertension (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.08–1.77), and preeclampsia (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.02–1.55). The associations between maternal HDP and offspring's IHD and stroke were independent of preterm birth and small for gestational age at birth. Maternal HDP remained associated with stroke in the offspring (aHR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.16–3.22), but not with IHD (aHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.47–1.67) in the sibling analyses. Conclusion Children to mothers with HDP have increased rates of IHD and stroke from childhood to young adulthood. While the link between maternal HDP and IHD in the offspring seemed to be attributed to confounding by familial factors, the relation between maternal HDP and stroke persisted even when considering such confounding. Persons born to mothers with HDP may benefit from early screening and prevention efforts to reduce the risk of IHD and stroke later in life. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation


Hypertension ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1414-1422
Author(s):  
Cande V. Ananth ◽  
Justin S. Brandt ◽  
Jennifer Hill ◽  
Hillary L. Graham ◽  
Sonal Grover ◽  
...  

We evaluated the contributions of maternal age, year of death (period), and year of birth (cohort) on trends in hypertension-related maternal deaths in the United States. We undertook a sequential time series analysis of 155 710 441 live births and 3287 hypertension-related maternal deaths in the United States, 1979 to 2018. Trends in pregnancy-related mortality rate (maternal mortality rate [MMR]) due to chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia/eclampsia, were examined. MMR was defined as death during pregnancy or within 42 days postpartum due to hypertension. Trends in overall and race-specific hypertension-related MMR based on age, period, and birth cohort were evaluated based on weighted Poisson models. Trends were also adjusted for secular changes in obesity rates and corrected for potential death misclassification. During the 40-year period, the overall hypertension-related MMR was 2.1 per 100 000 live births, with MMR being almost 4-fold higher among Black compared with White women (5.4 [n=1396] versus 1.4 [n=1747] per 100 000 live births). Advancing age was associated with a sharp increase in MMR at ≥15 years among Black women and at ≥25 years among White women. Birth cohort was also associated with increasing MMR. Preeclampsia/eclampsia-related MMR declined annually by 2.6% (95% CI, 2.2–2.9), but chronic hypertension–related MMR increased annually by 9.2% (95% CI, 7.9–10.6). The decline in MMR was attenuated when adjusted for increasing obesity rates. The temporal burden of hypertension-related MMR in the United States has increased substantially for chronic hypertension–associated MMR and decreased for preeclampsia/eclampsia-associated MMR. Nevertheless, deaths from hypertension continue to contribute substantially to maternal deaths.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Xaverius ◽  
Joanne Salas ◽  
Deborah Kiel ◽  
Candice Woolfolk

Objective. Very low birth weight (VLBW) is a significant issue in St. Louis, Missouri. Our study evaluated risk factors associated with VLBW in this predominantly urban community.Methods. From 2000 to 2009, birth and fetal death certificates were evaluated (n=160, 189), and mortality rates were calculated for perinatal periods of risk. The Kitagawa method was used to explore fetoinfant mortality rates (FIMR) in terms of birth weight distribution and birthweight specific mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the magnitude of association of selected risk factors with VLBW.Results. VLBW contributes to 50% of the excess FIMR in St. Louis City and County. The highest proportion of VLBW can be attributed to black maternal race (40.6%) in St. Louis City, inadequate prenatal care (19.8%), and gestational hypertension (12.0%) among black women. Medicaid was found to have a protective effect for VLBW among black women (population attributable risk (PAR) = −14.5).Discussion. Interventions targeting the health of women before and during conception may be most successful at reducing the disparities in VLBW in this population. Interventions geared towards smoking cessation and improvements in Medicaid and prenatal care access for black mothers and St. Louis City residents can greatly reduce VLBW rates.


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