Association between maternal serious mental illness and adverse birth outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of serious mental illness (SMI), and specific risk factors (comorbidities and substance use) to the risk of adverse birth outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study uses maternal delivery records in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide/National Inpatient Sample (HCUP-NIS) to estimate risk factor prevalence and relative risk of adverse birth outcomes (e.g. preeclampsia, preterm birth, and fetal distress) in women with SMI. RESULTS: The relative risk of adverse gestational (1.15, 95% CI: 1.13-1.17), obstetric (1.07, 1.06-1.08) and fetal (1.24, 1.21-1.26) outcomes is increased for women with SMI. After adjusting for risk factors the risk is significantly reduced, but remains elevated for all three adverse outcome categories (gestational: 1.08, 1.06-1.09; obstetric: 1.03, 1.02-1.05; fetal: 1.12, 1.09-1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal serious mental illness is independently associated with increased risk for adverse birth outcomes. However, approximately half of the excess risk is attributable to comorbidities and substance use.