Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes in the Texas Panhandle: A Five-Year Epidemiologic Study

Maternal care deserts, areas with limited or no access to maternity care, pose a significant risk for pregnancy complications. The VIBRANT MOMS coalition, developed to address maternal morbidity and mortality in the Texas Panhandle, conducted a needs and asset assessment of six counties, four of which have low or no access to maternal care. This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, as well as associated complications, among hospital deliveries to establish a baseline estimate of maternal morbidity in the region.

An epidemiologic analysis was conducted using the Texas Hospital Inpatient Discharge Public Use Data File (PUDF) from 2018-2022. Deliveries among females aged 10-59 years residing in Deaf Smith, Gray, Parmer, Potter, Randall, or Swisher counties were included. International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) codes identified preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and adverse outcomes. The study stratified by demographic characteristics, calculated descriptive statistics, and used chi-square tests (α = 0.05) to assess differences in the proportion of deliveries resulting in cesarean section, premature rupture of membranes, postpartum hemorrhage, or preterm labor.

Among 17,708 deliveries, 6.6% were complicated by preeclampsia and 6.8% by gestational diabetes. Cesarean delivery was more common in pregnancies with preeclampsia or gestational diabetes (p < 0.05). Premature rupture of membranes was less frequent in deliveries with preeclampsia (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in preterm labor. However, postpartum hemorrhage occurred more frequently among deliveries with preeclampsia (p < 0.001).

Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes affect a notable proportion of pregnancies in this region and are significantly associated with cesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage. These findings highlight the need for improved access to prenatal care and early identification of maternal risk factors, particularly in underserved areas. Baseline data from this study will inform ongoing maternal health initiatives in the Texas Panhandle.