MBRRACE-UK: Maternal mortality 2020-2022

Summary

MBRRACE have released their latest UK maternal mortality figures. The maternal death rate in 2020-22 was 13.41 per 100,000 maternities. This is significantly 53% higher than the rate of 8.79 deaths per 100,000 maternities in the previous three year period (2017-19).

Content

Main points

• There was a statistically non-significant increase in the overall maternal death rate in the UK between 2019-21 and 2020-22. A statistically non-significant increase also occurred when deaths due to COVID-19 were excluded.
• Compared to 2017-19, the last complete triennium, there was a statistically significant increase in the overall maternal death rate in the UK in 2020-22. This increase remained statistically significant when deaths due to COVID-19 were excluded.
• Thrombosis and thromboembolism was the leading cause of maternal death in the UK in 2020-22 during or up to six weeks after the end of pregnancy. COVID-19 was the second most common cause of maternal death followed by cardiac disease and mental health-related causes.
• There remains an almost three-fold difference in maternal mortality rates amongst women from Black ethnic backgrounds compared to White women. The maternal mortality rate for Black women has decreased from 2019-21 but not statistically significantly so. The apparent disparity has decreased largely due to an increase in the maternal mortality rate amongst White women. As in 2019-21 there remains an almost two-fold difference amongst women from Asian ethnic backgrounds compared to White women.
• Women living in the most deprived areas have a maternal mortality rate more than twice as high as women living in the least deprived areas. This disparity is statistically unchanged from 2019-2021.