Late maternal mortality: comparison of maternal mortality committees in Brazil

This population-based study included all the late maternal deaths from the case series of the Maternal Mortality Committees in the city of Sao Paulo and the state of Parana, Brazil. The study compared 134 deaths identified by the Sao Paulo committee and 124 from the Parana committee in 2004-2013, aimed at demonstrating the magnitude and causes of late maternal mortality. Late maternal deaths accounted for 13.4% of all maternal deaths in the case series of the Sao Paulo committee and 121% in the cases series of the Parana committee. Direct obstetric causes accounted for 32.1% of the late maternal deaths in Sew Paulo and 42.1% in Parana, with postpartum cardiomyopathy as the principal cause in both case series. Death occurred between 43 and 69 days postpartum in 44% of the cases in Sao Paulo and 39.5% in Parana. The correction factor for late maternal death was 3.3 in Sew Paulo and 4.3 in Parana. Late maternal death had a relevant impact on overall maternal mortality, and postpartum cardiomyopathy was the principal cause of late direct obstetric death.