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Causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States: 2017-2019

Causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States: 2017-2019
The graph above shows percentages of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States during 2017-2019 caused by:
  • Other cardiovascular conditions, 14.5%.
  • Infection or sepsis, 14.3%.
  • Cardiomyopathy, 12.1%.
  • Hemorrhage, 12.1%.
  • Thrombotic pulmonary or other embolism, 10.5%.
  • Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, 6.3%.
  • Amniotic fluid embolism, 6.1%.
  • Cerebrovascular accidents, 5.8%.
  • Anesthesia complications, 0.2%.
  • Other noncardiovascular medical conditions, 11.1%.

The cause of death is unknown for 7.0% of all 2017-2019 pregnancy-related deaths.

Studies show that an increasing number of pregnant persons in the United States have chronic health conditions such as hypertension,[1,2] diabetes,[2,3] and chronic heart disease.[4] These conditions may put a person at higher risk of complications during pregnancy or in the year postpartum.
References:
  1. Ford ND, Cox S, Ko JY, et al. Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy and Mortality at Delivery Hospitalization – United States, 2017-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022; 71:585.
  2. Admon LK, Winkelman TNA, Moniz MH, et al. Disparities in chronic conditions among women hospitalized for delivery in the United States, 2005-2014. Obstet Gynecol 2017; 130:1319.
  3. Deputy NP, Kim SY, Conrey EJ, Bullard KM. Prevalence and changes in preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes among women who had a live birth – United States, 2012-2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018; 67:1201.
  4. Lima FV, Yang J, Xu J, Stergiopoulos K. National trends and in-hospital outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease in the United States. Am J Cardiol 2017; 119:1694.

From: Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/maternal-mortality/php/pregnancy-mortality-surveillance (Accessed on March 27, 2023).

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