Hospital variation in maternal complications following caesarean delivery in the United States: 2006-2012

Abstract

Objective: To assess hospital variability in and patient and hospital factors associated with caesarean delivery (CD) complications.

Study design: Population-based cohort.

Setting: United States delivery admissions.

Population: Women who underwent a CD between 2006 and 2012.

Methods: Hospital-specific random-effects log-linear regression models were developed to account for patient, obstetric, and hospital risk factors related to a composite complication outcome including infection, haemorrhage, surgical complications and prolonged hospital stay. Between-hospital variability in rates of CD complications was also estimated.

Main outcome measure: Composite complication rate.

Results: Among 1 339 397 women who underwent CD in 457 hospitals, 6.4% (n = 85 838) experienced a complication. The most frequent complications were haemorrhage, transfusion, length of stay >7 days, and endometritis. Complications were strongly associated with the presence of obstetric factors and pre-existing medical conditions. Complication rates were 54% higher among black (8.8%) than white (5.7%) women (P < 0.001), and were more common in teaching (8.1%) than non-teaching (5.4%) hospitals (P < 0.001). In an adjusted model, the mean complication rate was 6.7%. A small proportion of hospitals (4.8%) had a complication rate greater than twice the mean (≥13.4%). Complications were strongly associated with the presence of obstetrical factors and pre-existing medical conditions.

Conclusions: CD complication rates are strongly associated with patient and obstetric factors. While CD complication rates may be a quality metric of limited utility given the low rate of complications across most hospitals, a small number of hospitals demonstrate particularly high rates of complications. Review of CD complication rates may be an important aspect of quality assurance processes for these centres.

Tweetable abstract: A small number of hospitals demonstrate particularly high rates of caesarean complications.

Keywords: Caesarean complications; care quality; hospital variation; obstetric variation.