Postpartum readmission risk: a comparison between stillbirths and live births

Stillbirth occurs more commonly among pregnant people with comorbid conditions and obstetrical complications. Stillbirth also independently increases maternal morbidity and imparts a psychosocial hazard when compared with live birth. These distinct needs and burden may increase the risk for postpartum readmission after stillbirth.

This study aimed to examine the risk for maternal postpartum readmission after stillbirth in comparison with live birth and to identify indications for readmission and the associated risk factors.

This was a retrospective cohort of patients with singleton stillbirths or live births, delivered at ≥20 weeks' gestation, who were identified from the 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database. The primary outcome was all-cause readmission within 6 weeks of discharge from the childbirth hospitalization. The association between stillbirth (vs live birth) and risk for readmission was assessed using multivariable regression models with adjustment for maternal age, sociodemographic characteristics, maternal and obstetrical conditions, and delivery characteristics. Within the stillbirth group, risk factors for readmission were further examined using multivariable regression. The secondary outcomes included principal indication for readmission (categorized based on principal diagnosis code of the readmission hospitalization) and timing of readmission (number of weeks after childbirth hospitalization). Differences in these secondary outcomes were compared between the stillbirth and live birth groups using chi-square tests. All analyses accounted for the complex sample design to generate nationally representative estimates.

Postpartum readmission occurred in 2.7% of 16,636 patients with stillbirths, whereas it occurred in 1.6% of 2,870,677 patients with live births (unadjusted risk ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-1.86). The higher risk for readmission after stillbirth (vs live birth) persisted after adjusting for maternal, obstetrical, and delivery characteristics (adjusted risk ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.46). The distribution of principal indication for readmission differed after stillbirth and after live birth and included hypertension (30.2% vs 39.5%; unadjusted risk ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.93), mental health or substance use disorders (6.8% vs 3.6%; unadjusted risk ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-3.16), and venous thromboembolism (5.8% vs 2.0%; unadjusted risk ratio, 2.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.60-5.17). Among patients with stillbirths, 56.0% of readmissions occurred within 1 week, 71.8% within 2 weeks, and 88.1% within 4 weeks; the timing of readmission did not differ significantly between the stillbirth and live birth cohorts. Pregestational diabetes (adjusted risk ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-2.93), gestational diabetes (adjusted risk ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.71), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-2.47), obesity (adjusted risk ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.12), and primary cesarean delivery (adjusted risk ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.58) were associated with a higher risk for readmission after stillbirth, whereas higher household income was associated with a lower risk for readmission (eg, adjusted risk ratio for income ≥$82,000 vs $1-$47,999, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.77).

When compared with live births, the risk for postpartum readmission was higher after stillbirths, even after adjustment for differences in the patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Readmission for mental health or substance use disorders and venous thromboembolism is more common after stillbirths than after live births.