Key result
Cardiomyopathy (22.7%), hemorrhage (21.6%), and cardiovascular disease (20.4%) were the leading causes of 129 pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia, with 48.8% occurring within 60 days postpartum.
Why the study?
US maternal mortality is high with persistent racial disparities, and Georgia has among the nation's worst pregnancy-related death rates, prompting examination of death timing and causes across sociodemographic groups.
Cross-Sectional (n=129)
Cardiovascular conditions, including cardiomyopathy and coronary disease, are the leading causes of pregnancy-related mortality in Georgia, accounting for over 40% of deaths.
Supports enhanced postpartum CV surveillance in Georgia; leaves open generalizability and need for prospective studies before broader practice changes.
Background: The maternal mortality rate in the United States is high and disparities among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black women remain. In the State of Georgia, the pregnancy-related death rate is among the worst in the nation. Objective: To examine current pregnancy-related deaths in the State of Georgia using measures of timing and cause-specific mortality across maternal sociodemographic characteristics. Design: This cross-sectional study of pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia was based on 2016–2019 maternal mortality data obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Methods: Our study analysis involved complete-case data of maternal deaths identified as pregnancy-related deaths ( n = 129). Statistical analyses included two distinct population-level measures: (a) timing (i.e. during pregnancy, 0 to 60 days, 61 to 180 days, and 181 to 365 days postpartum) and (b) cause-specific deaths patterned by sociodemographic groups of women and by rural and urban county of residence. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi square or Fisher’s exact test and presented as numbers and percentages. A post hoc power analysis was conducted to inform whether there was sufficient power to detect statistically significant effects given available sample sizes. Results: Among a total of 129 pregnancy-related deaths, 30 (23.3%) deaths occurred during pregnancy and 63 (48.8%) deaths occurred within the first 60 days postpartum. Pregnancy-related deaths were disproportionally common among non-Hispanic Black, 25 to 34 years old, and poorly educated women. Three leading underlying causes, cardiomyopathy (22.7%), hemorrhage (21.6%), and cardiovascular or coronary disease (20.4%), accounted for about 65% of all pregnancy-related deaths. Mental health conditions were common causes of death among non-Hispanic White women during pregnancy and in late postpartum. Conclusion: Continued monitoring, collecting and analyzing reliable data will help identify root causes and find ways to eliminate the disproportionate burden of pregnancy-related deaths in the State of Georgia.
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Kondracki et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Pregnancy-related maternal mortality (n=129). Maternal sociodemographic characteristics and timing was evaluated on Timing and causes of pregnancy-related deaths. Cardiomyopathy (22.7%), hemorrhage (21.6%), and cardiovascular disease (20.4%) were the leading causes of 129 pregnancy-related deaths in Georgia, with 48.8% occurring within 60 days postpartum.
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