CDC Data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 36 US States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data which shows that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable. The data, collected from Maternal Mortality Review Committees in 36 states between 2017 and 2019, found mental health, including suicide and substance use disorder, was the leading underlying cause of death in 23% of cases. More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occurred between one week and one year after delivery. The data also reveal chilling disparities—American Indian and Alaska Native people suffered the most preventable deaths, and a full 93% of the total deaths in these groups were considered avoidable. Cardiac and coronary conditions were the leading underlying cause of death among non-Hispanic Black people, who also suffer hugely disproportionate rates of deadly pregnancy complications.