Racial Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Pregnant Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Population-Level Analysis [ID 1123]

INTRODUCTION: There is a lack of published literature on how racial disparities may exacerbate obstetric outcomes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Our study aims to examine the relationship between race and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in pregnant PCOS patients independent of other comorbidities. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2015Q4–2019 was used to identify pregnant PCOS patients. The main exposure was race. The primary outcome, SMM, was extracted using CDC-defined ICD-10 codes. Analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, primary payer, hospital characteristics, obesity, and hypertension. Weighted odds ratios (adjusted odds ratios [aORs]) with 95% CIs are reported, with P<.05. RESULTS: Of 19,962 patients with PCOS, 444 (2.22%) had an outcome of SMM. Black race, age 35 and above, lower income, and public insurance were associated with significantly higher rates of SMM (3.41%, 3.01%, 2.44%, 2.81%, respectively). After controlling for stated confounders, Black patients had a higher risk of developing SMM than White patients (aOR 1.47, 1.15–1.88, P<.01). Similarly, Asian/Pacific Islander patients (aOR 1.40, 1.07–1.82, P<.05) and other racial groups (aOR 1.50, 1.12–2.01, P<.01) showed increased risk of developing SMM as compared to White patients. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Black patients with PCOS are significantly more likely to experience SMM compared to other racial groups even after adjusting for known confounders such as advancing age, hypertension, and obesity. This is a critical finding to support independent adverse influence of race per se in this very high-risk population.