A recent study published in JAMA Network Open analyzed data from over 18 million live births and more than 6,200 pregnancy-related deaths among women aged 15 to 54 years in the United States.

From 2018 to 2022, the U.S. experienced a 27.7% increase in the age-standardized rate of pregnancy-related deaths, rising from 25.3 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000 live births.

During this period, women aged 25 to 39 years saw a particularly alarming 36.8% increase in pregnancy-related mortality, with American Indian and Alaska Native women facing the highest rate at 106.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The United States now holds the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with over 80% of these deaths considered preventable.

Researchers estimate that 2,679 pregnancy-related deaths could have been avoided if national mortality rates aligned with those of the state with the lowest rates.

Disparities in pregnancy-related death rates are stark, with rural counties reporting rates 1.7 times higher than those in large metropolitan areas, and non-Hispanic Black and American Indian or Alaska Native populations facing rates two to three times higher than white populations.

State-by-state variations are significant, with Alabama recording the highest rate at 59.7 deaths per 100,000 live births, while California reported the lowest at 18.5.

The leading causes of late maternal deaths include cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and endocrine disorders, with drug- and alcohol-induced causes also contributing significantly.

These findings underscore a critical public health issue regarding pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., prompting calls for targeted prevention strategies to address racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities.

Inconsistencies in reported mortality rates stem from not all states fully implementing revised death certificate coding methods since 2018.

Monitoring efforts are further complicated by inconsistent estimates from tracking systems like the National Vital Statistics System and the Pregnancy-Related Mortality Surveillance System, highlighting the need for standardized, age-adjusted mortality measures.