Map 1: Any health condition: Percent of deliveries in New York City to women with at least one risk factor for severe infection from COVID-19 (cardiovascular condition, lung disease, class 3 obesity (BMI≥40), diabetes, cancer, immune condition), by zipcode
Obstetric providers across the United States are adapting how they deliver prenatal and childbirth care in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pregnant women do not appear to be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness. But maternal health issues such as obesity and chronic comorbidities are critical considerations for gauging disease burden among pregnant women in the United States.
Risk factors for serious illness include chronic lung disease and asthma, serious heart conditions, cancer, immunodeficiency, severe obesity (BMI≥40), and underlying health conditions such as diabetes. Pregnancies complicated by one or more of these risk factors may require additional monitoring and preventive measures to minimize serious maternal-fetal complications of COVID-19 infection.
At the Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute, we have developed a series of maps to describe the geographic distribution of deliveries in New York City according to risk factors for COVID-19 severity.
We mapped quintiles of risk factors by zip code for women delivering in New York using 2014 linked birth certificate-hospital discharge data. Maps show risk factors individually as well as the total percentage of women with at least one risk factor.
For example, Map 1 displays areas of the city where pregnant populations are at high risk of severe illness, and Map 2 suggests areas with a potentially heavy burden in terms of number of serious infections.
Map 2: Any condition (count): Number of deliveries in New York City to women with at least one risk factor for severe infection from COVID-19, by zipcode
Resources should be directed toward supporting obstetric teams in hospitals in these areas, as well as providing as much assistance as possible to underserved communities with limited access to health care and financial and social protections during this crisis.
Kimberly Glazer, PhD, Natalia Egorova, PhD, and Teresa Janevic, PhD are epidemiologists and members of the Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute. Special thanks to Ben Janevic for helping create the maps.
Hover over or click on each map below for detailed information.
Disclaimer: The raw Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) data used to produce this publication was purchased from or provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). However, the calculations, metrics, conclusions derived, and views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the work, conclusions, or views of NYSDOH. NYSDOH, its employees, officers, and agents make no representation, warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, or suitability of the information provided here.
Footnotes for maps Maps were developed using administrative databases, which may underestimate risk factors such as tobacco use and other health behaviors. Source: 2014 linked natality-Statewide Planning Research and Cooperative System (SPARCS) data. Estimates are based on data from all live births in New York City in 2014 (birth certificates linked to hospital discharge data).