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Increased postpartum hemorrhage rates in Australia
J B Ford1, C L Roberts, J M Simpson
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. jford@med.usyd.edu.au
Objective:
To determine whether changes in risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) over time are associated with a rise in postpartum hemorrhage rates.
Methods:
Population-based study using linked hospital discharge and birth records from New South Wales, Australia for 752,374 women giving birth, 1994-2002. Analyses include a description of trends and regression analysis of risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage and comparison of predicted and observed rates of postpartum hemorrhage over time.
Results:
Increasing proportions of women aged 35 years or older, born overseas, nulliparous, having cesarean births, having inductions and/or epidurals, postterm deliveries and large babies were evident. Observed postpartum hemorrhage rates increased from 4.7 to 6.0 per 100 births (P<0.001) while expected rates, adjusted for covariates, remained steady (P=0.28).
Conclusion:
Increases in postpartum hemorrhage are not explained by the changing risk profile of women. It may be that changes in management and/or reporting of postpartum hemorrhage have resulted in higher postpartum hemorrhage rates.
