• Brittany A Matenchuk, Rhonda J Rosychuk, Brian H Rowe, Amy Metcalfe, Radha Chari, Susan Crawford, Susan Jelinski, Jesus Serrano-Lomelin, and Maria B Ospina.
• Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• Ann Emerg Med. 2022 Jun 1; 79 (6): 543-553.

Study ObjectiveChallenges in transitioning from obstetric to primary care in the postpartum period may increase emergency department (ED) visits. This study described the frequency, characteristics, and predictors of maternal ED visits in the postpartum period.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of all live-birth pregnancies occurring in Alberta (Canada) between 2011 and 2017. Individual-level health and ED utilization data was linked across 5 population health databases. We calculated age-standardized ED visit rates in the postpartum period and used negative binomial regression models to assess the outcome of any ED visit in the postpartum period associated with relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors. Results were reported using rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).ResultsData on 255,929 pregnancies from 193,965 individuals were analyzed. During the study period, 44.7% of pregnancies had 1 or more ED visits; 29.7% of visits occurred within 6 weeks after delivery. Increased postpartum ED visits were associated with living in remote (RR, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.6 to 2.9) or rural areas (RR, 2.3; 95% CI, 2.3 to 2.4), age less than 20 years (RR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.4 to 2.6), mental (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.6 to 1.7) and major/moderate health conditions (RR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.5 to 1.6), multiparity 4 or more (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.9 to 2.1), cesarean delivery (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.4), and intensive prenatal care (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.5).ConclusionAlmost one third of ED visits in the postpartum occurred within 6 weeks immediately after delivery. Potential gaps in equitable access and quality of prenatal care should be bridged by appropriate transitions to primary care in the postpartum period.Copyright © 2021 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

12 keywords...

hide…