A new study reveals a troubling trend in maternal health care, with a sharp increase in emergency department visits for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This rise, observed over a 14-year period from 2006 to 2020, highlights ongoing racial disparities in access to prenatal care and management of pregnancy complications.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, found a staggering 76% increase in emergency encounters related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. More alarmingly, the study uncovered significant racial and ethnic disparities in emergency care utilization. Black, Hispanic, and Asian or Pacific Islander groups were more likely to both seek emergency care and be admitted to the hospital for these conditions.
Dr. Courtney Townsel, the lead author of the study, emphasized the implications of these findings. “The disproportionate rate of admissions among certain racial and ethnic groups suggests worse disease severity by the time people seek care,” she noted. This disparity points to potential barriers in accessing timely outpatient care or other systemic healthcare obstacles.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Erica Marsh from the University of Michigan Medical School, stressed the importance of early detection and intervention. “Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy often develop suddenly, even in healthy women, and symptoms may appear without warning and progress rapidly,” she explained.
These findings underscore the critical need for accessible, culturally competent community-level interventions to address the persistent racial disparities in U.S. maternal health outcomes. As emergency departments increasingly become the front line for managing these potentially life-threatening conditions, the healthcare system must adapt to ensure equitable care for all pregnant individuals.
