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Severe maternal morbidity and mortality have increased in the USA in recent years. This trend has not been consistent across all racial groups. The reasons behind this, and the relationship between pre-existing conditions, pregnancy-associated disease and Severe maternal morbidity/mortality, have not been fully explored. The findings suggest that the rate of both pre-existing comorbidities and pregnancy-associated disease is increasing in pregnant women in the USA and varies substantially by race. These trends provide valuable insight into the increasing complexity of pregnancy in the USA and explain a proportion of the observed increase in Severe maternal morbidity/mortality.
References
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