Maternal mortality rates are falling around the globe, but in the U.S., the rate is rising. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), an independent global health research organization based in UW Medicine, reports new data that shows death in pregnancy or by complications from childbirth rose from 23 out of every 100,000 births in 2005 to 28 out of 100,000 in 2013. Nearly a quarter of the deaths are from cardiovascular disease and heart failure, with obesity and diabetes thought to be contributing factors. However, doctors and researchers are still puzzled as to why rates began to rise starting around the year 2000. IHME makes this and many other points of data about illness and disability available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions in allocating healthcare resources in their communities. Learn more about IHME.
