RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To compare the results of two maternal death review processes conducted from 2002 to 2012 by Illinois regionalized perinatal centers with those conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health's (IDPH's) statewide multidisciplinary external Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC). METHODS: This is a retrospective record review linking MMRC case assessment forms to the IDPH's Maternal Mortality Review Form database to compare causes of death and potential preventability as determined by both review processes. RESULTS: MMRC records for 76 maternal death reviews were linked to the IDPH maternal mortality review form database. Most deaths reviewed by the statewide MMRC were due to pregnancy-related causes. The statewide MMRC differed from the regional perinatal centers on cause of death in 55.3% (n = 42) of cases and on the disposition of potential preventability in 48.7% (n = 37) of cases. The statewide MMRC judged 69.7% (n = 53) of cases potentially preventable, compared with 40.8% (n = 31) for the regional perinatal centers. The MMRC identified more preventable provider and systems factors for potentially preventable deaths compared with regional perinatal centers which identified more preventable patient factors. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: The statewide MMRC found more potential preventability and determined that preventability was associated with provider and systems factors, not patient factors. Observed discrepancies between regional perinatal center and statewide MMRC reviews were likely due to the complexity of cases selected for review, the multidisciplinary external composition of the review team, and the de-identification of cases. Multidisciplinary statewide expert panels should be implemented in addition to local and regionalized reviews.
Asunto(s)
Causas de Muerte/tendencias , Mortalidad Materna/tendencias , Complicaciones del Embarazo/mortalidad , Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Illinois/epidemiología , Embarazo , Complicaciones del Embarazo/prevención & control , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe the potential preventability of pregnancy-related deaths in Illinois from 2002 through 2012 as determined by perinatal centers following the Illinois maternal death review process. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective review of all known maternal deaths in the state from 2002 through 2012 with complete records in the Illinois Department of Public Health's Maternal Mortality Review Form database. The association between causes of death and potential preventability was analyzed for pregnancy-related deaths. RESULTS: There were 610 maternal deaths in Illinois during the study period (31.8 per 100,000 live births). One-third of maternal deaths (n = 210) were directly or indirectly related to pregnancy, 7.0% (n = 43) were possibly related, and 52.6% (n = 321) were unrelated. Vascular causes were the most common cause of pregnancy-related death, followed by cardiac causes and hemorrhage. One-third of deaths directly or indirectly related to pregnancy were deemed potentially preventable. Hemorrhage and deaths due to psychiatric causes were most likely to be considered avoidable, while cancer and vascular-related deaths were generally not considered preventable. CONCLUSION: This analysis of pregnancy-related deaths in Illinois, the first in >60 years, found similar causes of death and potential preventability as pregnancy-related death reviews in other states. Analyzing the causes of pregnancy-related death is a critical and necessary step in improving maternal health outcomes, particularly in decreasing potentially preventable pregnancy-related deaths. Greater attention should be directed toward intervening on the provider, systems, and patient factors contributing to preventable deaths.