Use of Intensive Care Unit in Women with Severe Maternal Morbidity and Maternal Death: Results from a National Multicenter Study

Abstract

Objective To assess the use of the intensive care unit (ICU) and its effect on maternal mortality (MM) among women with severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

Materials and Methods A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study on surveillance of SMM in 27 Brazilian obstetric referral centers. The analysis focused on the association between ICU use and maternal death according to individual characteristics and disease severity. Two multivariate regressions considering use of the ICU, age, ethnicity, adequacy of care and the human development index were performed to identify the factors associated to maternal death and maternal near-miss.

Results Out of 82,388 deliveries during the period, there were 9,555 (11.6%) women with SMM, and the MM ratio was of 170.4/100 thousand live births. In total, 8,135 (85.1%) patients were managed in facilities in which ICUs were available; however, only 2,059 (25.3%) had been admitted to the ICU. On the multivariate analysis, when the severity of the maternal disease was measured by the maternal severity score (MMS), the strength of the association between the use of the ICU and maternal death was greatly reduced, along with inadequate care and non-availability of the ICU at the facility. On the assessment of only the more critical cases (SMO, severe maternal outcome), the same pattern of association between ICU and MM was observed. In the models used, only inadequate care and MSS were significantly associated with MM.

Conclusion The current study indicates that the main variables associated with maternal death are the severity and adequacy of the case management, which is more frequent in ICU admissions. The use of the ICU without the stratification of the patients by severity may not produce the expected benefits for part of the women.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar o efeito da utilização de unidades de terapia intensiva (UTIs) na mortalidade materna (MM) entre mulheres com morbidade materna grave (MMG).

Materiais e Métodos Foi realizada uma análise secundária de um estudo transversal de vigilância de morbidade materna grave em 27 centros de referência obstétrica no Brasil. O foco desta análise foi a associação entre a utilização de UTI e morte materna segundo características individuais e condições de gravidade. Análises múltiplas considerando as variáveis uso de UTI, idade, etnia, adequação do cuidado e índice de desenvolvimento humano foram realizadas para identificar os fatores associados à morte materna e near-miss materno.

Resultados Dos 82.388 partos ocorridos durante o período de estudo, 9.555 (11,6%) mulheres apresentaram MMG, e a razão de MM foi de 170,4/100 mil nascidos vivos. Neste grupo, 8.135 (85,1%) pacientes foram atendidas em instituições com disponibilidade de leitos de UTI, mas apenas 2.059 (25,3%) foram de fato admitidas em leitos de UTI. Na análise de regressão multivariada, quando se considerou a gravidade do caso pelo maternal severity score (pontuação de severidade materna, MMS, na sigla em inglês), houve uma grande redução da força de associação entre utilização de UTI e morte materna, além da inadequação do cuidado e não disponibilidade de UTI na instituição. Na avaliação considerando apenas os casos de maior gravidade (desfecho materno grave, DMG), observou-se o mesmo padrão de associação entre UTI e MM. Nos modelos utilizados, apenas a inadequação do cuidado e o MSS apresentam associação significativa com a MM.

Conclusão O presente estudo aponta que as principais variáveis associadas à morte materna são a gravidade e a adequação do manejo do caso, mais frequentes nas internações em UTI. A utilização dos leitos de UTI sem a estratificação da gravidade da paciente pode não trazer benefícios esperados para uma parte das mulheres.

Keywords

intensive care unit - severe maternal morbidity - maternal near-miss - complications of pregnancy

Palavras-chave

Unidade De Terapia Intensiva - morbidade materna grave - near-miss materno - complicações da gravidez

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