Journal of clinical medicine research
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ICU admission is uncommon among obstetric patients. Nevertheless, the epidemiology of ICU utilization is considered to be a useful proxy for study of severe maternal morbidity and near-miss events. However, there is paucity of population-level studies in obstetric patients in the United States. ⋯ This study documents the highest incidence of ICU utilization in obstetric patients in the US to date. The findings suggest low threshold for obstetric ICU admissions in the state and do not support comparative use of ICU utilization as surrogate measure for populations' burden of severe maternal morbidity and near-miss events. Nevertheless, the demonstrated tremendous heterogeneity in ICU utilization across examined subgroups identifies new high-risk groups of obstetric patients that would benefit from heightened clinician vigilance and timely ICU triage and care. Further studies are needed to inform reduction in avoidable variability in ICU utilization to both enhance maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes and to improve resource allocation.