Risk of Stillbirth after Antepartum Hospitalization for Hypertensive Diseases of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if women with an antepartum admission for hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP) were at increased risk for stillbirth.

STUDY

DESIGN

This study utilized the 2010 to 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Antepartum admissions with HDP were identified and linked to subsequent delivery hospitalizations. Delivery hospitalizations with HDP without a preceding antepartum HDP admission were also identified. Risk for stillbirth, abruption, or both was compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

An estimated 382,621 deliveries with an HDP diagnosis were identified of which 14,857 (3.9%) had a preceding antepartum admission for HDP. Stillbirth occurred in 7.8 per 1,000 delivery hospitalizations complicated by HDP with risk higher with a preceding HDP antepartum admission in both unadjusted (1.1 vs. 0.8%, risk ratios [RR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-1.70) and adjusted (adjusted risk ratios [aRR] 1.24, 95% CI 1.06, 1.46) analyses. Abruption occurred in 19.6 per 1,000 delivery hospitalizations complicated by HDP with risk higher with a preceding HDP antepartum admission in both unadjusted (2.5 vs. 1.9%, RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.17-1.44) and adjusted (aRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11, 1.37) analyses. Risk for combined abruption and stillbirth did not differ significantly.

CONCLUSION

In this analysis, prior antenatal hospitalization was associated with increased risk for stillbirth among women with HDP.