ProgenyHealth’s latest key trends and insights report

ProgenyHealth has released its 2023 key trends and insights report, titled “Rising Risks, Renewed Resolve.”

In the report, authors detailed vital areas for health plans, hospitals, and health care providers to observe in the next year. Worrying trends have been reported in pregnancy and childbirth, with a significant spike in maternal mortality rate seen in recent years to be 3 times greater than in other high-income countries.

Preterm births have also risen to 1 in 102 babies delivered at least 3 weeks early in 2022. Pregnancy complications, childbirth complications, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stays have also seen rising rates. This has increased rates of health care utilization andspend from these complications.

"The rising risks that dominate the maternal and infant health landscape are tied to an intricate mix of factors: ranging from political and legal shifts to economic pressures to healthcare workforce shortages, systemic bias contributing to mistrust among communities of color, and unhealthy lifestyle habits exacerbated by the pandemic," said Linda Genen, MD, chief medical officer at ProgenyHealth.

One prediction in the report is that Increased social determinants of health (SDoH) tracking will allow further understanding of nonclinical factors affecting certain populations of patients. This would help healthcare providers increase care access and coordination.

The report also predicts a persistence of maternal health access challenges despite attention and investments made in recent years. New legislation challenges, increases care costs, and widening maternal care will all lead to difficulties in preventive care.

Rising rates of pregnancy risk factors in recent years are also noted in the report. These factors have risen in part because of shifts in Americans’ lifestyle habits, increasing maternal age, and greater prevalence of preexisting chronic conditions.

While initial predictions stated high-tech offerings such as telehealth might replace in-person appointments, current trends indicate symbiosis between telehealth and in-person appointments. This is leading to techniques which integrate virtual care into the in-person experience, according to the report.

As mental health spiked during the pandemic, perinatal individuals have experienced an even more significant surge, the report notes. The prevalence of mental health conditions is even greater among Black women.

"We will continue to take a leading role in assisting mothers in having healthier full-term pregnancies and navigating unavoidable complex NICU and postpartum issues by focusing on SDoH disparities, interactive technology, and supportive care management from a team of medical experts,” said Susan Torroella, chief executive officer at ProgenyHealth. “The actions we all take today will have a substantial impact on the future."

Reference

ProgenyHealth releases 2023 key trends and insights report on maternal & infant health. ProgenyHealth. February 14, 2023. Accessed February 15, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/progenyhealth-releases-2023-key-trends-and-insights-report-on-maternal--infant-health-301743212.html?tc=eml_cleartime