CDC reports 4 in 5 Pregnancy-Related Deaths in U.S. are Preventable

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable, according to 2017-2019 data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs), which are representatives of diverse clinical and non-clinical backgrounds who review the circumstances around pregnancy-related deaths to identify recommendations to prevent future deaths. Information from MMRCs in 36 U.S. states on leading causes of death by race and ethnicity can be used to prioritize interventions that can save lives and reduce health disparities.  Among pregnancy-related deaths with information on timing, 22% of deaths occurred during pregnancy, 25% occurred on the day of delivery or within 7 days after, and 53% occurred between 7 days to 1 year after pregnancy.  The leading underlying causes of pregnancy-related death include Mental health conditions (including deaths to suicide and overdose/poisoning related to substance use disorder) (23%),  Excessive bleeding (hemorrhage) (14%),  Cardiac and coronary conditions (relating to the heart) (13%),  Infection (9%),  Thrombotic embolism (a type of blood clot) (9%),  Cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle) (9%), and Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (relating to high blood pressure) (7%).  The leading underlying cause of death varied by race and ethnicity. Cardiac and coronary conditions were the leading underlying cause of pregnancy-related deaths among non-Hispanic Black people, mental health conditions were the leading underlying cause for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White people, and hemorrhage was the leading underlying cause for non-Hispanic Asian people.