Comorbidities and Risk-Adjusted Maternal Outcomes: A Retrospective Study on Administrative Data

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was the evaluation of maternal outcomes and of the associated risk factors occurred in Abruzzo region, Italy, from 2009 to 2013. Methods: The study considered all the deliveries performed from 2009 to 2013 in Abruzzo region, Italy. Data were collected from all hospital discharge records. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate crude odds ratios for each comorbidity. Stepwise multiple logistic regression models with backward selection were performed to identify predictors of the most frequent outcomes. Results: 57, 260 deliveries were analyzed. Severe complication occurred in 0.9% of all deliveries. The most frequent complications were “Severe Hemorrhage”, “Hysterectomy”, “Uterine rupture” and “Severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia”. Malignant cancer (OR=55.76), coagulation disorders (OR=37.21), acute pulmonary disease (OR=29.75), placenta previa (OR=26.51), caesarean section (OR=3.24) and age (OR=1.08) were associated with a higher risk of hysterectomy. Anemia (OR=14.64), coagulation disorders (OR=10.31), cardiac disease (OR=12.74), pregnancy hypertension (OR=2.66), major pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (OR=2.78), placenta previa (OR=9.42) and multiple pregnancy (OR=3.69) were associated to severe hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia (OR=26.04) and diabetes (OR=5.05) were associated to uterine rupture. Overweight or obesity (OR=25.88) and pregnancy cardiovascular disease (OR=25.85) were associated to pre-eclampsia. Conclusions: Maternal comorbidities are associated with increased risk of complications and may result in substantial costs to the health care system.