title: Decreasing mortality during pregnancy and for a year after while mortality after termination of pregnancy remains high: a population-based register study of pregnancy-associated deaths in Finland 2001-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate mortality in the non-pregnant fertile female population, and mortality during pregnancy and up to 1 year after the end of pregnancy, in Finland from 2001 to 2012 and compare the results with those of 1987-2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 427 deceased women of reproductive age (15-49).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy outcomes were categorised into: ongoing pregnancy or birth, miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy and termination of pregnancy. Mortality was calculated per 100 000 pregnancies. The mortality rate of the non-pregnant female population of fertile age was calculated per 100 000 person-years, and the results were compared with those of 1987-2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancy-associated mortality during pregnancy and up to 1 year after the end of pregnancy. Mortality of non-pregnant, fertile-age, female population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age-adjusted mortality rate during pregnancy and within 1 year after the end of pregnancy was 28.4/100 000 pregnancies, and it had significantly decreased compared with the period 1987-2000 [risk ratio (RR) 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65-0.88)]. Mortality in non-pregnant fertile-age females was 48.1/100 000 person-years. Mortality for diseases and medical conditions during and after pregnancy decreased by 26% [RR 0.74 (95% CI, 0.59-0.92)] and for external causes by 23% [RR 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62-0.95)]. The mortality rate for suicides was 3.3/100 000 in ongoing pregnancies and pregnancies ending in birth while it was 21.8/100 000 after termination of pregnancy and 10.2/100 000 among non-pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In comparison with earlier decades, pregnancy-associated mortality has decreased in Finland.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mortality decreases among pregnant women and within 1 year after pregnancy in Finland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: V-M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ulander
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.|University of Helsinki, Hyvinkää Hospital, Hyvinkää, Finland.
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tapper
authors.affiliation: THL, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.|Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gissler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delivery; ectopic pregnancy; homicide; mortality; pregnancy; suicide; termination of pregnancy; women