Maternal Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease Among American Women Doubled in 20 Years

Pregnancy-related deaths from cardiovascular disease have been rising over time, more than doubling since 1999 in the U.S. Racial disparities and access to proper health care, among other factors, are largely be to blame.

primary cause of pregnancy-related mortality, which has been rising over time. According to recent data presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session in March 2025, rates of maternal mortality due to heart disease have more than doubled in the last 20 years.

Data for the study was gathered from the CDC’s WONDER database. The free, online database houses public health data sets. The researchers collected data from 1999 to 2022, including data on racial and geographic differences among the women. The study concluded that the rate of maternal mortality increased from 3.6 per 1 million in 1999 to a peak of 10.5 per million in 2021, and decreased to 9.1 per million in 2022. While rates in 2020 and 2021 were particularly high during the COVID-19 pandemic, the steady increase since the turn of the century is troubling to say the least.

The increase is likely due to various factors such as preexisting conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Disparities among mothers of different races and economic backgrounds, as well as access to health care, have also greatly contributed to this concerning trend. Black mothers and women living in southern states face the greatest risk for maternal mortality: Black women had about triple the rate of maternal mortality as White women, with a mortality rate of 21.9 per million among Black women versus 7.1 per million among White women. Those living in the South saw the highest mortality rate of any U.S. region, with a mortality rate of 12.1 per million compared with 5.4 per million in Western states.

In order to reverse this maternal mortality trend, access to prenatal care clinics that are able to handle high-risk pregnancies will be a key part of the effort. Researchers noted that clinicians and patients alike should be aware of cardiovascular risk factors and take steps to mitigate them. This can help prevent complications that lead to maternal death.

While every pregnancy-related death is tragic, it hits harder when death could have been prevented—as was the case for many mothers over the course of the last quarter-century. For example, in analyzing data from over 1,000 pregnancies across 36 states between 2017 and 2019, the CDC found that 80% of maternal deaths were preventable. Many of these mothers could have been saved had they been provided proper attention, timely treatment, and respectful, quality care.

Did Your Loved One Die After Childbirth as a Result of Medical Negligence?

If you believe your loved one died due to medical negligence during her pregnancy, labor, childbirth or the postpartum period, consider speaking to an experienced and compassionate birth injury attorney. We can help you understand if you have any potential legal options, and answer your questions about your rights.