Statewide Severe Maternal Morbidity Review in Illinois

To address rising rates of severe maternal morbidity and persistent racial disparities, Illinois established severe maternal morbidity review in all obstetric hospitals. The purpose of this study is to describe the findings from the statewide severe maternal morbidity review in 2018.

This is a retrospective analysis of a hospital-level severe maternal morbidity review that occurred in 2018 (n=408) compared with all 2018 Illinois live births (n=141,595), inclusive of any severe maternal morbidity cases resulting in a live birth before hospital discharge. Cases were chosen for review based on completeness of records, complexity of the case, or an assessment that cases presented opportunities for learning and quality improvement; ie, not all severe maternal morbidity cases were reviewed. We present descriptive characteristics that contributed to the severe maternal morbidity event, and health care professional, system, and patient opportunities to alter the severe maternal morbidity outcome.

A total of 408 severe maternal morbidity cases were reviewed. Women with severe maternal morbidity were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, multiparous, aged 35 years or older, have public insurance, and receive inadequate prenatal care. The most common causes of severe maternal morbidity were hemorrhage (48%), and preeclampsia and eclampsia (20%). Overall, 42% of severe maternal morbidity cases had opportunities to improve care. Non-Hispanic Black women had a disproportionately high burden of severe maternal morbidity due to preeclampsia and eclampsia (31% vs 18.1%) and were more likely to need improvement in care compared with non-Hispanic White women (53% vs 39.0%). The most common opportunities to alter the severe maternal morbidity outcome were health care professional factors during the intrapartum (9%) and postpartum (10%) periods.

Standardized severe maternal morbidity review gives a fuller view of the state of maternal health and highlights opportunities to improve quality of care.