Blood clots are leading cause of death during pregnancy, report shows

The maternal death rate in the UK is at its highest for 20 years, with thrombosis and thromboembolism the leading cause of death, according to a major report.

The latest MBRRACE-UK report, Saving lives, improving mothers’ care,1 shows that 275 women died during or up to six weeks after pregnancy in 2020-22. Blood clots were the cause of death for 16%, followed by covid-19 (14%) and cardiac disease (13%).

The report also examines the cases of 329 women who died between six weeks and one year after the end of pregnancy during the same period. Deaths from mental health related causes accounted for a large proportion (34%) of these, with deaths from substance misuse and suicide the leading causes.

The report, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and led by a consortium of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and the Royal College of Nursing, shows that inequalities in …