Severe Maternal Cardiovascular Morbidity

T he rising contribution of cardiovascular dis- ease to maternal mortality has been clearly documented.However, mortality is the tip of the iceberg.Approximately 700 women die annually in the United States, but up to 60,000 suffer pregnancy-associated morbidity.1 Severe maternal morbidity (SMM), defined as potentially lifethreatening events during labor and delivery, is an integral component of maternal health.In the United States, where most obstetric deliveries occur in a hospital setting, discharge data are a valuable source for maternal health surveillance.Centers for Disease Control data show that overall SMM has been rising.