Increased risk of severe maternal morbidity (near-miss) among immigrant women in Sweden: a population register-based study

Abstract

Objective: To determine if immigrant women from low-, middle- and high-income countries have an increased risk of severe maternal morbidity (near-miss) when they deliver in Sweden.

Design: Population register-based study.

Setting: Nationwide study including all singleton deliveries (≥28 weeks of gestation) between 1998 and 2007.

Population: Women with a near-miss event; all women with a singleton delivery ≥28 weeks of gestation during the same period acted as reference group.

Methods: Near-miss was defined by a combined clinical and management approach with use of International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes for severe maternal morbidity. A woman's country of origin was designated as low-, middle- or high-income according to the World Bank Classification of 2009. Unconditional logistic regression models were used in the analysis.

Main outcome measures: Maternal near-miss frequencies per 1000 deliveries and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: There were 914 474 deliveries during the study period and 2655 near-misses (2.9 per 1000 deliveries). In comparison to Swedish-born women, those from low-income countries had an increased risk of near-miss (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.9-2.8) that was significant in all morbidity groups except for cardiovascular diseases and sepsis. Women from middle- and high-income countries showed no increased risk of near-miss.

Conclusions: Women from low-income countries have an increased risk of maternal near-miss morbidity compared with women born in Sweden. Although the rate is low it should alert healthcare providers.

Keywords: Immigration; maternal near-miss; severe maternal morbidity.