Preterm Birth Is Associated With Higher Long-Term Maternal Mortality Risk

Long term mortality risk remains higher up to 40 years later for mothers who deliver pre-term, a recent study suggested.

While prior studies have suggested that preterm delivery increases long-term health risks in both offspring and mothers, the relationship between preterm delivery and long-term mortality risk in these women had not yet been well explored. To examine this relationship, the researchers utilized data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register which included 2,189,477 women with singleton deliveries from 1973 to 2015.

Over a median follow-up period of 23.4 years, 76,535 deaths occurred. The researchers found that women who delivered before 37 weeks had higher mortality rates than women with full-term deliveries. Secondary results found that the risk was increased for up to 44 years following delivery. Risk was especially increased within the first 10 years after delivery, while each additional week of pregnancy was associated with a 4% lower risk of death.  

“Premature delivery should now be recognized as a risk factor for early mortality in women. Medical records and history taking should routinely include reproductive history that covers preterm delivery and other complications of pregnancy. Women with a history of preterm delivery need long term follow-up for recommended screenings to facilitate detection and treatment of chronic disorders,” the authors conclude.

—Leigh Precopio

Reference:

Crump C, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Preterm delivery and long term mortality in women: national cohort and co-sibling study. Published online August 17, 2020. BMJ. 2020;370:m2533. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2533