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Persons with mental health conditions (MHCs) might be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes after hospitalization because of poor access to care and a higher incidence of underlying conditions. [...]

Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illicit substance among reproductive-age women in the United States. Updated information on marijuana use in this population can inform clinical and public health interventions. Data from the 2013–2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was used to report weighted prevalence estimates of marijuana use in the past month, past 2–12 months, and past year among women aged 18–44 years with self-reported pregnancy status. Bivariate analyses and general linear regression models with Poisson distribution using appropriate survey procedures identified factors associated with past-year marijuana use by pregnancy status. Among pregnant women, 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1–5.6) reported marijuana use in the past month, 10.4% (95% CI: 9.3–11.5) in the past 2–12 months, and 15.2% (95% CI: 13.9–16.6) in the past year. Among nonpregnant women, 11.8% (95% CI: 11.5–12.0) reported marijuana use in the past month, 7.8% (95% CI: 7.6–8.0) in the past 2–12 months, and 19.5% (95% CI: 19.2–19.9) in the past year. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, past-year marijuana use was 2.3–5.1 times more likely among pregnant, and 2.1 to 4.6 times more likely among nonpregnant women who reported past-year tobacco smoking, alcohol use, or other illicit drug use compared to those reporting no substance use. Pregnant and nonpregnant women reporting marijuana use, alone or with other substances, can benefit from substance use screening and treatment facilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To understand differences in health care utilization and medical expenditures by perinatal depression (PND) status during pregnancy and 1‐year postpartum overall and by rural/urban status. Methods: We estimated differences in health care utilization and medical expenditures by PND status for individuals with an inpatient live‐birth delivery in 2017, continuously enrolled in commercial insurance from 3 months before pregnancy through 1‐year postpartum (study period), using MarketScan Commercial Claims data. Multivariable regression was used to examine differences by rurality. Findings: Ten percent of commercially insured individuals had claims with PND. A smaller proportion of rural (8.7%) versus urban residents (10.0%) had a depression diagnosis (p < 0.0001). Of those with PND, a smaller proportion of rural (5.5%) versus urban residents (9.6%) had a depression claim 3 months before pregnancy (p < 0.0001). Compared with urban residents, rural residents had greater differences by PND status in total inpatient days (rural: 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.9 vs. urban: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.5–0.6) and emergency department (ED) visits (rural: 0.7, 95% CI: 0.6–0.9 vs. urban: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4–0.5), but a smaller difference by PND status in the number of outpatient visits (rural: 9.2, 95% CI: 8.2–10.2 vs. urban: 13.1, 95% CI: 12.7–13.5). Differences in expenditures for inpatient services by PND status differed by rural/urban status (rural: $2654; 95% CI: $1823–$3485 vs. urban: $1786; 95% CI: $1445–$2127). Conclusions: Commercially insured rural residents had more utilization for inpatient and ED services and less utilization for outpatient services. Rural locations can present barriers to evidence‐based care to address PND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is broadly defined as an unexpected and potentially life-threatening event associated with labor and delivery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) produced 21 different indicators based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) hospital diagnostic and procedure codes to identify cases of SMM. Objectives: To examine existing SMM indicators and determine which indicators identified the most in-hospital mortality at delivery hospitalization. Methods: Data from the 1993–2015 and 2017–2019 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample were used to report SMM indicator-specific prevalences, in-hospital mortality rates, and population attributable fractions (PAF) of mortality. We hierarchically ranked indicators by their overall PAF of in-hospital mortality. Predictive modeling determined if SMM prevalence remained comparable after transition to ICD-10-CM coding. Results: The study population consisted of 18,198,934 hospitalizations representing 87,864,173 US delivery hospitalizations. The 15 top ranked indicators identified 80% of in-hospital mortality; the proportion identified by the remaining indicators was negligible (2%). The top 15 indicators were: restoration of cardiac rhythm; cardiac arrest; mechanical ventilation; tracheostomy; amniotic fluid embolism; aneurysm; acute respiratory distress syndrome; acute myocardial infarction; shock; thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism; cerebrovascular disorders; sepsis; both DIC and blood transfusion; acute renal failure; and hysterectomy. The overall prevalence of the top 15 ranked SMM indicators (~22,000 SMM cases per year) was comparable after transition to ICD-10-CM coding. Conclusions: We determined the 15 indicators that identified the most in-hospital mortality at delivery hospitalization in the US. Continued testing of SMM indicators can improve measurement and surveillance of the most severe maternal complications at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We sought to determine whether race/ethnicity disparities in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes persist in the era of vaccination. Methods Population-based age-adjusted monthly rate ratios (RRs) of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19–associated hospitalizations were calculated among adult patients from the COVID-19–Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network, March 2020 - August 2022 by race/ethnicity. Among randomly sampled patients July 2021 - August 2022, RRs for hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality were calculated for Hispanic, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN), and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) persons vs White persons. Results Based on data from 353 807 patients, hospitalization rates were higher among Hispanic, Black, and AI/AN vs White persons March 2020 - August 2022, yet the magnitude declined over time (for Hispanic persons, RR = 6.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.5–7.1 in June 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after July 2021; for AI/AN persons, RR = 8.4; 95% CI, 8.2–8.7 in May 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after March 2022; and for Black persons RR = 5.3; 95% CI, 4.6–4.9 in July 2020 vs RR < 2.0 after February 2022; all P ≤.001). Among 8706 sampled patients July 2021 - August 2022, hospitalization and ICU admission RRs were higher for Hispanic, Black, and AI/AN patients (range for both, 1.4–2.4) and lower for API (range for both, 0.6–0.9) vs White patients. All other race and ethnicity groups had higher in-hospital mortality rates vs White persons (RR range, 1.4–2.9). Conclusions Race/ethnicity disparities in COVID-19–associated hospitalizations declined but persist in the era of vaccination. Developing strategies to ensure equitable access to vaccination and treatment remains important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The opioid crisis affects the health and health care of pregnant and postpartum people and infants prenatally exposed to substances. A Learning Community (LC) among 15 states was implemented to improve services for these populations. States drafted action plans with goals, strategies, and activities. Materials and Methods: Qualitative data from action plans were analyzed to assess how reported activities aligned with focus areas each year. Year 2 focus areas were compared with year 1 to identify shifts or expansion of activities. States self-assessed progress at the LC closing meeting, reported goal completion, barriers and facilitators affecting goal completion, and sustainment strategies. Results: In year 2, many states included activities focused on access to and coordination of quality services (13 of 15 states) and provider awareness and training (11 of 15). Among 12 states participating in both years of the LC, 11 expanded activities to include at least one additional focus area, adding activities in financing and coverage of services (n = 6); consumer awareness and education (n = 5); or ethical, legal, and social considerations (n = 4). Of the 39 goals developed by states, 54% were completed, and of those not completed, 94% had ongoing activities. Barriers to goal completion included competing priorities and pandemic-related constraints, whereas facilitators involving use of the LC as a forum for information-sharing and leadership-supported goal completion. Sustainability strategies were continued provider training and partnership with Perinatal Quality Collaboratives. Conclusion: State LC participation supported sustainment of activities to improve health and health care for pregnant and postpartum people with opioid use disorder and infants prenatally exposed to substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac arrest is an uncommon but serious maternal complication. This article describes the rate of cardiac arrest among hospitalized women who were pregnant in the United States in 2017 to 2019 and examines factors associated with those who had cardiac arrest and those who survived. Visual Abstract. Cardiac Arrest During Delivery Hospitalization.: Cardiac arrest is an uncommon but serious maternal complication. This study describes the rate of cardiac arrest among hospitalized women who were pregnant in the United States in 2017 to 2019 and examines factors associated with those who had cardiac arrest and those who survived. Background: Estimates of cardiac arrest occurring during delivery guide evidence-based strategies to reduce pregnancy-related death. Objective: To investigate rate of, maternal characteristics associated with, and survival after cardiac arrest during delivery hospitalization. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: U.S. acute care hospitals, 2017 to 2019. Participants: Delivery hospitalizations among women aged 12 to 55 years included in the National Inpatient Sample database. Measurements: Delivery hospitalizations, cardiac arrest, underlying medical conditions, obstetric outcomes, and severe maternal complications were identified using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification. Survival to hospital discharge was based on discharge disposition. Results: Among 10 921 784 U.S. delivery hospitalizations, the cardiac arrest rate was 13.4 per 100 000. Of the 1465 patients who had cardiac arrest, 68.6% (95% CI, 63.2% to 74.0%) survived to hospital discharge. Cardiac arrest was more common among patients who were older, were non-Hispanic Black, had Medicare or Medicaid, or had underlying medical conditions. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was the most common co-occurring diagnosis (56.0% [CI, 50.2% to 61.7%]). Among co-occurring procedures or interventions examined, mechanical ventilation was the most common (53.2% [CI, 47.5% to 59.0%]). The rate of survival to hospital discharge after cardiac arrest was lower with co-occurring disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) without or with transfusion (50.0% [CI, 35.8% to 64.2%] or 54.3% [CI, 39.2% to 69.5%], respectively). Limitations: Cardiac arrests occurring outside delivery hospitalizations were not included. The temporality of arrest relative to the delivery or other maternal complications is unknown. Data do not distinguish cause of cardiac arrest, such as pregnancy-related complications or other underlying causes among pregnant women. Conclusion: Cardiac arrest was observed in approximately 1 in 9000 delivery hospitalizations, among which nearly 7 in 10 women survived to hospital discharge. Survival was lowest during hospitalizations with co-occurring DIC. Primary Funding Source: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify perceived roles with regard to care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) history and resources for improving care among women with a history of GDM from the perspective of obstetrician/ gynecologists (OB/GYNs), certified nurse midwives (CNM), family practitioners, and internists. In 2010, a survey was sent to a random sample of OB/GYNs, CNM, family practitioners, and internists (n = 2,375) in Ohio to assess knowledge, attitudes, and postpartum practices regarding diabetes prevention for women with a history of GDM. A total of 904 practitioners completed the survey (46%). Over 70% of CNMs strongly agreed it is part of their job to help women with GDM history improve diet and increase exercise, compared with 60% of family practitioners/internists and 55% of OB/GYNs (p < 0.001). More OB/GYNs and CNMs identified a need for more local nutrition specialists and patient education materials, compared with family practitioners/ internists. Between 60 and 70% of OB/GYNs and CNMs reported lifestyle modification programs and corresponding reimbursement would better support them to provide improved care. Health care providers giving care to women with GDM history have varying perceptions of their roles, however, there was agreement on resources needed to improve care. Keywords Gestational diabetes * Diabetes prevention * Postpartum care, Introduction Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), or glucose intolerance, excluding overt diabetes, with onset in or first recognized in pregnancy [1], more than doubled between 1989-1990 and 2003-2004 [2], and is [...]

The association between thromboembolic events (TE) and COVID-19 infection is not completely understood at the population level in the United States. We examined their association using a large US healthcare database. We analyzed data from the Premier Healthcare Database Special COVID-19 Release and conducted a case–control study. The study population consisted of men and non-pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years with (cases) or without (controls) an inpatient ICD-10-CM diagnosis of TE between 3/1/2020 and 6/30/2021. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed the association between TE occurrence and COVID-19 diagnosis, adjusting for demographic factors and comorbidities. Among 227,343 cases, 15.2% had a concurrent or prior COVID-19 diagnosis within 30 days of their index TE. Multivariable regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between a COVID-19 diagnosis and TE among cases when compared to controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.75, 95% CI 1.72–1.78). The association was more substantial if a COVID-19 diagnosis occurred 1–30 days prior to index hospitalization (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 2.88–3.13) compared to the same encounter as the index hospitalization. Our findings suggest an increased risk of TE among persons within 30 days of being diagnosed COVID-19, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the thrombotic risk among COVID-19 patients, particularly during the first month following diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]