The landscape of disparities in obstetric neurocritical care and a path forward

Abstract

Health disparities in the obstetric population affect maternal morbidity and mortality. In the past years, there has been no significant improvement in disparities in care in the obstetric population. Patients who are pregnant are known to have a higher risk of pregnancy-associated neurologic conditions such as stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. They can also experience concomitant neurocritical care disease states such as status epilepticus and traumatic brain injury. Studies exploring the disparities of care among pregnant patients who are neurotically ill are lacking. We aim to provide the landscape of disparities of care among the obstetric neurocritically-ill population and provide potential actionable opportunities to address these disparities in care.

Keywords: disparities health; health care; neurocritical care; obstetric care; pregnancy.

Figure 1

A new lens into looking at the landscape of disparities in obstetric neurocritical care and its integration into the patient continuum of care. On the corners are the main issues that are prevalent and that have to be integrated across the continuum of care. All of these issues also affect both obstetric care and neurocritical care and ultimately affect the outcome of the mother and the fetus. The areas of disparities in care that should be considered through the care of these patients are also shown.