Association between weighted adverse outcome score and race/ethnicity in women and neonates.

Objective: To examine the association between the Weighted Adverse Outcome Score (WAOS) and race/ethnicity among a large and diverse population-based cohort of women and neonates in the United States.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of women who delivered in the United States between 2011 and 2013. We identified mother-infant pairs with adverse maternal and/or neonatal outcomes. These outcomes were assigned weighted scores to account for relative severity. The association between race/ethnicity and WAOS was examined using chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Compared to White women and their neonates, Black women and their neonates were at higher odds of an adverse outcome.

Conclusion(s): The vast majority of women and neonates had no adverse outcome. However, Black women and their neonates were found to have a higher WAOS. This tool could be used to designate hospitals or regions with higher-than-expected adverse outcomes and target them for intervention.