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. 2020 Jan;40(1):25-29.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0481-z. Epub 2019 Aug 28.

Rate and causes of severe maternal morbidity at readmission: California births in 2008-2012

Anna I Girsen  1 , Lillian Sie  2 , Suzan L Carmichael  3   2 , Henry C Lee  2   4 , Megan E Foeller  3 , Maurice L Druzin  3 , Ronald S Gibbs  3
Affiliations

Rate and causes of severe maternal morbidity at readmission: California births in 2008-2012

Anna I Girsen et al. J Perinatol. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the rate, maternal characteristics, timing, and indicators of severe maternal morbidity (SMM) that occurs at postpartum readmission.

Study design: Women with a birth in California during 2008-2012 were included in the analysis. Readmissions up to 42 days after delivery were investigated. SMM was defined as presence of any of the 21 indicators defined by ICD-9 codes.

Results: Among 2,413,943 women with a birth, SMM at readmission occurred in 4229 women. Of all SMM, 12.1% occurred at readmission. Over half (53.5%) of the readmissions with SMM occurred within the first week after delivery hospitalization. The most common indicators of SMM were blood transfusion, sepsis, and pulmonary edema/acute heart failure.

Conclusion: Twelve percent of SMM was identified at readmission with the majority occurring within 1 week after discharge from delivery hospitalization. Because early readmission may reflect lack of discharge readiness, there may be opportunities to improve care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Timing of postpartum readmission with severe maternal morbidity by week, up to 6 weeks after discharge from delivery hospitalization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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