Delve into the implications of a study investigating maternal mortality tracking methods in the United States, as OB Hospitalist Group's Chief Medical Officer, Mark Simon, MD, highlights critical factors often overlooked and emphasizes collaborative care for preventing deaths.
In a recent interview, Mark Simon, MD, chief medical officer at OB Hospitalist Group, discussed a recent study evaluating how maternal mortality deaths are counted.
The study aimed to track maternal deaths following changes in 2003 and 2017 to the tracking process in the United States. This change included adding a checkbox to death certificates asking if the patient was or might have been pregnant in the year before death.
The study aimed to determine if the checkbox changes the estimation of maternal mortality. Investigators found that the checkbox slightly overestimates maternal mortality causes.
Simon expressed surprise that the study did not include the number of deaths with a minor connection to maternal care. The most significant omission was mental health and substance abuse, which are common in pregnant patients. Simon believed that failing to include these factors led to an underestimation of the impact pregnancy has on maternal outcomes.
One factor that did not get enough attention according to Simon was that each maternal death is a young human being, and clinicians should do all they can to prevent these deaths. Simon believes this to be the case regardless of whether the deaths specifically or temporally related to pregnancy.
According to Simon, the research noted an improvement in obstetrically related deaths. To Simon, this indicates clinicians must stay on top of the best processes for significant maternal diseases.
Simon also noted steps expecting mothers can take to reduce their mortality risk. This includes open communication with health care providers about health history, external environment, and mental health concerns.
Teams should work together when caring for pregnant patients, Simon said. There may be multiple health care professionals managing a pregnant patient, and working together as a team will ensure the best outcomes. Simon concluded that many maternal mortality deaths are preventable, and can be prevented through cooperation by providers.
Severe maternal morbidity linked to mental health risks post-delivery
April 26th 2024A recent study revealed that severe maternal morbidity during pregnancy increases the likelihood of mental health hospitalizations or emergency department visits up to 13 years post-delivery, emphasizing the need for mental health screening.
Read More
S4E1: New RNA platform can predict pregnancy complications
February 11th 2022In this episode of Pap Talk, Contemporary OB/GYN® sat down with Maneesh Jain, CEO of Mirvie, and Michal Elovitz, MD, chief medical advisor at Mirvie, a new RNA platform that is able to predict pregnancy complications by revealing the biology of each pregnancy. They discussed recently published data regarding the platform's ability to predict preeclampsia and preterm birth.
Listen
Study finds antihypertensive treatment reduces uterine fibroids risk
April 23rd 2024A recent study revealed that patients with untreated or new-onset hypertension face elevated chances of uterine fibroid diagnosis, underscoring the potential of antihypertensive therapy in mitigating this risk among midlife individuals.
Read More
Unraveling preeclampsia: Insights into heterogeneity and intravascular inflammation
April 22nd 2024A recent study delved into the intricate clusters of term preeclampsia, shedding light on its diverse manifestations and the pivotal role of intravascular inflammation, paving the way for improved classification and management strategies.
Read More