Group Multimodal Prenatal Care and Postpartum Outcomes.

Importance: An increasing body of evidence suggests equivalent if not improved postpartum outcomes of in-person group prenatal care compared with individual prenatal care. However, research is needed to evaluate outcomes of group multimodal prenatal care (GMPC), with groups delivered virtually in combination with individual in-person office appointments to collect vital signs and conduct other tests compared with individual multimodal prenatal care (IMPC) delivered through a combination of remotely delivered and in-person visits. Objective: To compare postpartum outcomes between GMPC and IMPC. Design, Setting, and Participants: A frequency-matched longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care delivery system. Participants included 424 individuals who were pregnant (212 GMPC and 212 frequency-matched IMPC controls (matched on gestational age, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and maternal age) receiving prenatal care between August 17, 2020, and April 1, 2021. Participants completed a baseline survey before 14 weeks' gestation and a follow-up survey between 4 and 8 weeks post partum. Data analysis was performed from January 3, 2022, to March 4, 2024. Exposure: GMPC vs IMPC. Main Outcome Measures: Validated instruments were used to ascertain postpartum psychosocial outcomes (stress, depression, anxiety) and perceived quality of prenatal care. Self-reported outcomes included behavioral outcomes (breastfeeding initiation, use of long-acting reversible contraception), satisfaction with prenatal care, and preparation for self and baby care after delivery. Primary analyses included all study participants in the final cohort. Three secondary dose-stratified analyses included individuals who attended at least 1 visit, 5 visits, and 70% of visits. Log-binomial regression and linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: The final analytic cohort of 390 participants (95.6% follow-up rate of 408 singleton live births) was racially and ethnically diverse: 98 (25.1%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 88 (22.6%) Hispanic, 17 (4.4%) non-Hispanic Black, 161 (41.3%) non-Hispanic White, and 26 (6.7%) multiracial participants; median age was 32 (IQR, 30-35) years. In the primary analysis, after adjustment, GMPC was associated with a 21% decreased risk of perceived stress (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67-0.94) compared with IMPC. Findings were consistent in the dose-stratified analyses. There were no significant differences between GMPC and IMPC for other psychosocial outcomes. While in the primary analyses there was no significant group differences in perceived quality of prenatal care (mean difference [MD], 0.01; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.15) and feeling prepared to take care of baby at home (ARR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.96-1.23), the dose-stratified analyses documented higher perceived quality of prenatal care (MD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.01-0.31) and preparation for taking care of baby at home (ARR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43) for GMPC among those attending 70% of visits. No significant differences were noted in patient overall satisfaction with prenatal care and feeling prepared for taking care of themselves after delivery. Conclusions: In this cohort study, equivalent and, in some cases, better outcomes were observed for GMPC compared with IMPC. Health care systems implementing multimodal models of care may consider incorporating virtual group prenatal care as a prenatal care option for patients.

Factors associated with postpartum readmission for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum readmission has negative implications for patients and health systems. Previous studies suggest that up to 5% of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy experience postpartum readmission. Studies examining factors associated with postpartum readmission for hypertension have had small sample sizes and conflicting results. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the incidence of and risk factors for postpartum readmission for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among a cohort of women with preexisting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with known hypertensive disorders of pregnancy who delivered live births in a large managed care organization in 2018. The primary outcome was hospital readmission for a hypertensive diagnosis or stroke within 42 days after delivery. The primary exposure of interest was persistent postpartum hypertension, defined as a maximum systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg or maximum diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mm Hg within 24 hours before discharge from delivery hospitalization. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using bivariate analysis. Risk factors independently associated with postpartum readmission were identified using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 42,022 women who delivered in 2018, 7151 had hypertensive disorders of pregnancy-an incidence of 17%. The rate of postpartum readmission among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 4.43% (317 of 7151). The following risk factors were associated with increased odds of postpartum readmission in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg within 24 hours before discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.71-3.07), diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mm Hg within 24 hours before discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.73), maternal age of ≥30 years (30-34: adjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.19; 35-39: adjusted odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-3.28; ≥40: adjusted odds ratio, 2.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.95-4.46), receipt of magnesium sulfate (adjusted odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-1.94), and receipt of inpatient rapid-acting antihypertensive medication (adjusted odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.93). In addition, 1 blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg within 24 hours before discharge increased the odds of readmission (adjusted odds ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-2.87). Furthermore, 2 or more elevated blood pressure values further increased the odds (adjusted odds ratio, 3.14; 95% confidence interval, 2.33-4.24). Median postpartum day of readmission was day 5 (interquartile range=3). CONCLUSION: Hospital readmission for postpartum hypertension was associated with persistent postpartum hypertension (blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg), increasing maternal age, and more severe antepartum hypertension. Women with these characteristics may be targeted in future quality initiatives to mitigate readmission.