NHLBI IN THE PRESS

U.S. pregnancy-related deaths on the rise

A woman who is pregnant touched her stomach while talking to a physician.

The number of people living in the United States who died during or shortly after childbirth has increased within the past 20 years, according to research published in JAMA.
 
Researchers reviewed the number of pregnancy-related deaths in each state between 1999-2019. They found that maternal death rates have at least doubled among all people, ages 10-54, who gave birth during this time. In 2019, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black individuals were among groups disproportionately affected. By reviewing data within states, researchers also identified regions, such as the northern Midwest and South, with increased disparities.

"Our state-by-state research emphasizes where we need to focus our prevention efforts and which groups are suffering the most,” said Gregory A. Roth, M.D., M.P.H., an associate professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Washington, through a news releaseThe research was partially supported by NHLBI.

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