Association of maternal chronic disease and negative birth outcomes in a non-Hispanic Black-White Mississippi birth cohort.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of selected maternal chronic medical conditions, race, and age on preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and infant mortality among Mississippi mothers from 1999 to 2003. DESIGN A retrospective cohort analysis of linked birth and death certificates. SAMPLE The 1999-2003 Mississippi birth cohort comprising 202,931 singleton infants born to African American and White women. MEASUREMENTS The relationship between maternal chronic conditions and the dependent variables of PTB, LBW, and infant mortality were investigated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS PTB, LBW, and infant mortality were more prevalent among African American women, very young women (< or =15 years), and women with certain chronic medical conditions. Among White mothers, maternal chronic hypertension was significantly associated with PTB and LBW, and maternal diabetes with PTB and infant mortality. Among African American mothers, maternal cardiac disease was significantly associated with PTB and LBW; maternal chronic hypertension was significantly associated with LBW and infant mortality; and maternal diabetes with PTB. CONCLUSIONS Maternal chronic hypertension and diabetes were significantly associated with negative birth outcomes regardless of maternal race. Maternal cardiac disease was only significantly associated with PTB and LBW among African Americans.