Posted on Mar 16, 2022
The pandemic is making America's dismal pregnancy-related death rate even worse
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A new report from the CDC reveals that pregnancy-related death rates are going up. In 2020, pregnancy-related mortality rose by nearly 20 percent compared to the previous year. The report also found a growing disparity in mortality along racial lines. Black people are dying at three times the rate of white people.
In addition, a new report from Vox out this week found that maternity wards are shuttering around the country, especially in rural areas and communities consisting primarily of people of color.
This is all taking place during a global pandemic that has strained hospital systems and made even routine procedures a difficult and sometimes dangerous task. But pregnancy-related deaths have been going up long before COVID-19, having almost doubled in the past 30 years.
How has the pandemic impacted maternal mortality and what is being done to reverse this long-standing trend?
In addition, a new report from Vox out this week found that maternity wards are shuttering around the country, especially in rural areas and communities consisting primarily of people of color.
This is all taking place during a global pandemic that has strained hospital systems and made even routine procedures a difficult and sometimes dangerous task. But pregnancy-related deaths have been going up long before COVID-19, having almost doubled in the past 30 years.
How has the pandemic impacted maternal mortality and what is being done to reverse this long-standing trend?
The pandemic is making America's dismal pregnancy-related death rate even worse
Posted from the1a.org
Pregnancy
Medical
Health
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Hurts like hell to use the thumbs up on this post, however, having paid attention to this particular demographic x24 months, it's absolutely heartbreaking
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It was bad in Texas before the pandemic hit so being worse is what one would expect in this state.
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The study revealed that these disparities were concentrated among a few causes of death. Postpartum cardiomyopathy (a form of heart failure) and the blood pressure disorders preeclampsia and eclampsia were leading causes of maternal death for Black women
Another study looking into preeclampisa within US-born black women born in the US vs black immigrant women found a higher prevalence of preeclampisa risk factors among US-born Black women: smoking, diabetes, obesity, stress and previous pregnancies. They were also younger, less educated and more often single compared to foreign-born Black women. Seems these risks are related to trends within black communities in the US like smoking, bad diets, not exercising and multiple pregnancies rather than disparities in health care as the longer a black female immigrant lives here in America the higher the risk.
As well there is the negative affect in providing free health care in America.
The financial incentive to eat right, exercise and abstain from unhealthy habits is greatly diminished.
This study may indicate how lock downs may have contributed to surplus deaths (increase of deaths not due to COVID-19). Many people were forced to stay cooped up in homes - not exercising, eating poorly and killing time with bad habits. What's interesting is that the pandemic actually slowed the birth rate. Seems this should have helped to lower pregnancy related deaths.
Not saying all the deaths fit into this bucket - more so staying healthy is important - another thing COVID taught us - being old with comorbidities was a death sentence.
https://newsroom.heart.org/news/u-s-born-black-women-at-higher-risk-of-preeclampsia-than-black-immigrants#:~:text=U.S.%2Dborn%20Black%20women%20at%20higher%20risk%20of%20preeclampsia%20than%20Black%20immigrants,-American%20Heart%20Association&text=Research%20Highlights%3A,who%20immigrated%20to%20the%20country.
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/09/united-states-births-declined-during-the-pandemic.html
Another study looking into preeclampisa within US-born black women born in the US vs black immigrant women found a higher prevalence of preeclampisa risk factors among US-born Black women: smoking, diabetes, obesity, stress and previous pregnancies. They were also younger, less educated and more often single compared to foreign-born Black women. Seems these risks are related to trends within black communities in the US like smoking, bad diets, not exercising and multiple pregnancies rather than disparities in health care as the longer a black female immigrant lives here in America the higher the risk.
As well there is the negative affect in providing free health care in America.
The financial incentive to eat right, exercise and abstain from unhealthy habits is greatly diminished.
This study may indicate how lock downs may have contributed to surplus deaths (increase of deaths not due to COVID-19). Many people were forced to stay cooped up in homes - not exercising, eating poorly and killing time with bad habits. What's interesting is that the pandemic actually slowed the birth rate. Seems this should have helped to lower pregnancy related deaths.
Not saying all the deaths fit into this bucket - more so staying healthy is important - another thing COVID taught us - being old with comorbidities was a death sentence.
https://newsroom.heart.org/news/u-s-born-black-women-at-higher-risk-of-preeclampsia-than-black-immigrants#:~:text=U.S.%2Dborn%20Black%20women%20at%20higher%20risk%20of%20preeclampsia%20than%20Black%20immigrants,-American%20Heart%20Association&text=Research%20Highlights%3A,who%20immigrated%20to%20the%20country.
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/09/united-states-births-declined-during-the-pandemic.html
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SFC Terry Stinnett
That study data was all collected prior to COVID for presentation in 2020. COVID adds an increased risk of clotting disorders. Pregnancy is by definition an immuno-compromised state--tge mom's body has to "turn off" much off the immune response to support the pregnancy. All women need adequate pre-natal and post-natal care, but we're often dismissed, particularly post-partum as a case of "it's all in your head" We're physically depleted, very often sleep-deprived, & easily dismissed.
SCAD is just one of the significant dx to be overlooked
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.114.011422#:~:text=P%2DSCAD%20can%20occur%20during,by%20the%20World%20Health%20Organization.&text=The%20term%20peripartum%20SCAD%20has,3%20to%205%20months%20postpartum.
SCAD is just one of the significant dx to be overlooked
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.114.011422#:~:text=P%2DSCAD%20can%20occur%20during,by%20the%20World%20Health%20Organization.&text=The%20term%20peripartum%20SCAD%20has,3%20to%205%20months%20postpartum.
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SPC David S.
I agree with you that COVID adds risk to pregnancy however in knowing that it seems as if there is a problem in America with lifestyle choices. There are ways individuals can mitigate the risks via healthy lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise and minimizing other non healthy choices.
My point was more towards - hey if you know there are gaps or disparities in health care take some ownership and do what you can as an individual to minimize your risks.
As for SCAD the exact aetiology is still unknown and is also very rare. However high blood pressure can increase the risk. As such this is a problem for pregnant women regardless of race or other socioeconomic factors as it often goes undetected.
I feel the biggest gap in care is in post-partum. The main reason being mental health in general is not a priority in America. I bet if there was a lucrative medical procedure that was associated with the treatment of port-partum health care providers would be all over it.
Mental health care in America is a mess. We're talking 100,000 patients to 1 doctor kind of mess in some areas in America. Again not a problem something specific to gender and or race.
I'm all for health and happy outcomes for "all". I just feel in America we are doing a horrible job of promoting healthy eating and exercise. I firmly believe there is a connection between physical health and mental health and a lot of studies have shown a correlation between exercise and reduced stress.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC300778/#:~:text=Today%2C%20about%2065%25%20of%20adults,energy%20is%20stored%20as%20fat.
My point was more towards - hey if you know there are gaps or disparities in health care take some ownership and do what you can as an individual to minimize your risks.
As for SCAD the exact aetiology is still unknown and is also very rare. However high blood pressure can increase the risk. As such this is a problem for pregnant women regardless of race or other socioeconomic factors as it often goes undetected.
I feel the biggest gap in care is in post-partum. The main reason being mental health in general is not a priority in America. I bet if there was a lucrative medical procedure that was associated with the treatment of port-partum health care providers would be all over it.
Mental health care in America is a mess. We're talking 100,000 patients to 1 doctor kind of mess in some areas in America. Again not a problem something specific to gender and or race.
I'm all for health and happy outcomes for "all". I just feel in America we are doing a horrible job of promoting healthy eating and exercise. I firmly believe there is a connection between physical health and mental health and a lot of studies have shown a correlation between exercise and reduced stress.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC300778/#:~:text=Today%2C%20about%2065%25%20of%20adults,energy%20is%20stored%20as%20fat.
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