Most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, CDC says

More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to 2017-2019 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among deaths with information on timing, 22% occurred during pregnancy, 25% on or within seven days of delivery, and 53% seven days to one year after pregnancy. The leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related death were cardiac and coronary conditions among Black people, mental health conditions among Hispanic and white people, and hemorrhage among Asian people. The agency points to the need for quality improvement initiatives in states, hospitals and communities to ensure that people who are pregnant or postpartum receive the right care at the right time. Last week, the American Hospital Association released an infographic on considerations for hospitals developing digital solutions to improve maternal care. (CDC news release, 9/19/22)