Hospital Readmission Following Delivery With and Without Severe Maternal Morbidity

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) during inpatient delivery and its impact on subsequent hospital readmissions are not well understood.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving maternal healthcare outcomes and reducing readmission rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between severe maternal morbidity events during inpatient delivery and subsequent 30-day hospital readmissions.
• To identify key factors contributing to readmission in commercially insured and Medicaid populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study using MarketScan databases (2016) of women with live inpatient deliveries.
• Identified births using ICD-10, CPT, and DRG codes.
• Analyzed readmission incidence and diagnoses based on SMM status using multivariable logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Women with SMM during delivery had a 12 times greater readmission rate compared to those without SMM.
• In the Commercial population, SMM was strongly associated with readmission.
• Common readmission diagnoses included obstetric infections, endometritis, and eclampsia.

Conclusions:

• Severe maternal morbidity during delivery hospitalization is a significant risk factor for subsequent hospital readmission.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to prevent readmissions in mothers experiencing SMM.
• Increased awareness of these risks can aid healthcare providers in proactive maternal care and complication prevention.