Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40614128›Full record

ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2025

Maternal deaths from sepsis in the Nordic countries during 2005-2021: A descriptive study.

Sedina Atic Kvalvik, Hanna Åmark, Rikke Bek Helmig, Mika Gissler, Lill Trine Nyfløt, Steinar Skrede, Siri Vangen, Svein Rasmussen, Elham Baghestan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sedina Atic KvalvikDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9364-1816
Hanna ÅmarkDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, General South Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7599-567X
Rikke Bek HelmigDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Mika GisslerFinnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Department of Data and Analytics, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8254-7525
Lill Trine NyfløtNorwegian Research Center for Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8120-6825
Steinar SkredeDepartment of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Siri VangenNorwegian Research Center for Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4681-4774
Svein RasmussenDepartment of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Elham BaghestanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionMaternal sepsis is a heterogenous condition which can arise from several different infections during and after pregnancy. Common for all etiologies is a high mortality rate. In a global perspective, maternal sepsis is an important contributor to maternal death. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical management of maternal deaths from sepsis in the Nordic countries and identify areas for improved clinical handling. MATERIAL AND

methodsWe used data from the Nordic Maternal Mortality Collaboration including maternal deaths from the five Nordic countries from 2005 till 2021, identified through linked registers. The national audit groups assessed each maternal death based on hospital records and classified it according to cause and quality of management. We formulated learning points to improve future clinical care in cases of maternal sepsis.

resultsIn total, 267 maternal deaths were identified, equaling a maternal mortality rate of 5.9 per 100 000 live births (95% CI 5.25-6.62). Maternal sepsis accounted for 9.7% of the maternal deaths (n = 26), ranking sepsis the fifth leading cause. Nongenital sepsis and genital tract sepsis numbers were almost equal. Substandard care was identified in 57% of cases with nongenital infections, and in 83% of genital tract sepsis cases. Improvements in care that possibly could have influenced the outcome were noted in 29% and 67% of cases, respectively. In nongenital sepsis, delayed recognition of sepsis and delayed administration of antimicrobial therapy were the commonest elements in substandard care. Delayed recognition of sepsis, delayed administration of antimicrobial therapy, and postponed or lacking surgical source control were the main elements in substandard care of genital tract sepsis.

conclusionsIn the Nordic countries, sepsis was the fifth leading cause of maternal deaths during 2005-2021. In one-third of maternal deaths from nongenital sepsis and two-thirds of maternal deaths from genital tract sepsis, clinical measures could have reduced the risk of fatal outcome, emphasizing the need for maximal awareness and improved clinical handling.

Indexed as

Maternal DeathMaternal MortalityPregnancy Complications, InfectiousSepsisAdultCause of DeathFemaleHumansPregnancyRegistriesScandinavian and Nordic Countriesgenital tract sepsismaternal morbiditymaternal mortalitymaternal sepsisobstetric infection

Identifiers

PMID40614128
PMCPMC12393983

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