Severe maternal morbidity in the high income setting: a systematic review of composite definitions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is an important indicator for the improvement of maternity care. Measurement of SMM varies, limiting global comparisons. To promote concordance we studied how SMM has been defined in epidemiological practice.

Methods

Comprehensive composite definitions of SMM in pregnancy or up to 6 weeks postnatal that captured both obstetric and non-obstetric processes in high-income settings were identified through a prospectively registered (PROSPERO CRD42023421377) systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar 01/01/1993-31/08/2024. Clinical concepts, diagnostic and procedural codes captured by definitions of SMM were compared and the variation between definitions was described.

Findings

The initial search identified 7852 recor

SUBMITTER: Henderson I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874727 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature