title: Assessing preventability of maternal mortality in Illinois: 2002-2012.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL; Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL. Electronic address: sgeller@uic.edu.
authors: Stacie E
authors: SE
authors: Geller
authors: Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors: Abigail R
authors: AR
authors: Koch
authors: Perinatal Health Data Section, Center for Health Statistics, Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL.
authors: Nancy J
authors: NJ
authors: Martin
authors: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Rosenberg
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Rush Medical College of Rush University, Chicago, IL.
authors: Harold R
authors: HR
authors: Bigger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D063130:Maternal Death / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000401:mortality; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000401:mortality; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: maternal mortality; pregnancy-related deaths; preventability