Risk Factors for Postpartum Readmission Among Women After Having a Stillbirth.

ABSTRACT Background Compared to women with a livebirth, women with a stillbirth are more likely to have maternal complications during pregnancy and at birth, but risk factors related to their postpartum health are uncertain. Objective This study aimed to identify patient-level risk factors for postpartum hospital readmission among women after having a stillbirth. Study design This is a population-based cohort study of 29,654 women with a stillbirth in California from 1997-2011. Using logistic regression models, we examined the association of maternal patient-level factors with postpartum readmission among women after a stillbirth within six weeks of hospital discharge and between six weeks and nine months after birth. Results Within six weeks after a stillbirth, 642 (2.2%) women had a postpartum readmission. Risk factors for postpartum readmission after a stillbirth were: severe maternal morbidity excluding transfusion (aOR= 3.02, 95% CI 2.28-4.00), transfusion at delivery but no other indication of severe maternal morbidity (aOR= 1.95, 95% CI 1.35-2.81), gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (aOR=1.93, 95% CI 1.54-2.42), pre-pregnancy hypertension (aOR= 1.80, 95% CI 1.36-2.37), diabetes (aOR= 1.78, 95% CI = 1.33-2.37), an antenatal hospitalization (aOR= 1.78, 95% CI 1.43-2.21), cesarean birth (aOR= 1.73, 95% CI 1.43-2.21), long (> 2 days for vaginal birth, > 4 days for cesarean birth) birth hospitalization length of stay (aOR= 1.59, 95% CI 1.33-1.89), non- Hispanic black race/ ethnicity (aOR= 1.38, 95% CI 1.08-1.76), and having less than a high school education (aOR= 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.80). From 6 weeks to 9 months, 1,169 (3.90%) women had a postpartum readmission; significantly associated risk factors were largely similar to those for earlier readmission. Conclusion Women with comorbidities, birth-related complications, of non-Hispanic black race/ ethnicity, or with less education had increased odds of postpartum readmission after having a stillbirth, highlighting the importance of continued care for these women after birth hospitalization. Trial registration Not applicable.