Pregnancy-related mortality in the United States due to hemorrhage: 1979-1992.
OBJECTIVE
To study trends and examine risk factors for pregnancy-related mortality due to hemorrhage.


METHODS
We analyzed pregnancy-related deaths from 1979-1992 from the National Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Live-birth data used to calculate mortality ratios were obtained from published vital statistics. Deaths due to ectopic pregnancies were excluded.


RESULTS
There were 763 pregnancy-related deaths from hemorrhage associated with intrauterine pregnancies, a ratio of 1.4 deaths per 100,000 live births. The pregnancy-related mortality ratio was higher for black women and those of other races than white women. The risk of pregnancy-related mortality increased with age. Abruptio placentae was the overall leading cause of pregnancy-related death due to hemorrhage. Leading causes of death differed by race, age group, and pregnancy outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Hemorrhage is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the United States. Black women have three times the risk of death of white women. In-depth investigations are needed to ascertain the risk factors associated with those deaths.
Chichakli
L O
LO
Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Atrash
H K
HK
MacKay
A P
AP
Musani
A S
AS
Berg
C J
CJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology