Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders

Abstract Importance The maternal-infant connection is fundamental, not only for the psychological wellbeing of both individuals in the dyad, but for their overall health. Yet, their health outcomes are often reported as separate entities. This study offers a novel exploration about how healthcare ut...

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Main Authors: Ashlee J. Vance, Clayton J. Shuman, Sarah Bell, Anca Tilea, Anna Courant, Karen M. Tabb, Kara Zivin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-025-00218-7
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author Ashlee J. Vance
Clayton J. Shuman
Sarah Bell
Anca Tilea
Anna Courant
Karen M. Tabb
Kara Zivin
author_facet Ashlee J. Vance
Clayton J. Shuman
Sarah Bell
Anca Tilea
Anna Courant
Karen M. Tabb
Kara Zivin
author_sort Ashlee J. Vance
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Importance The maternal-infant connection is fundamental, not only for the psychological wellbeing of both individuals in the dyad, but for their overall health. Yet, their health outcomes are often reported as separate entities. This study offers a novel exploration about how healthcare utilization and costs are interconnected for the dyad. To address this critical gap, our study purpose was to evaluate parallel healthcare utilization outcomes and costs for the birthing person-infant dyad during the postpartum period for those with and without PMAD. The study objectives were to 1) describe healthcare utilization use and costs in the dyad and 2) assess the association of PMAD status with healthcare use and costs in the dyad. Objective To evaluate parallel healthcare utilization outcomes and costs for the birthing person-infant dyad during the postpartum period for those with and without perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). Design A cross-sectional analysis of healthcare utilization and costs in the postpartum period for birthing individuals and their infants between 2016–2020. Setting Private insurance data of delivering women in all 50 US states. Participants The study sample included individuals with evidence of a delivery from 2016 to 2020 who delivered a live singleton newborn. Specifically, we included individuals coded as female, aged 15–44, and with continuous enrollment in a single health plan during the calendar year before and after delivery. Results The sample consisted of 101,306 birthing individuals and 108,438 infants representing 108,438 unique dyads. Most birthing individuals were between the ages of 25–39 and categorized as White (71.7% of deliveries). Births to White and Black perinatal individuals had the highest percentage with a PMAD diagnosis (21.9% of deliveries to White individuals and 17.9% of deliveries to Black individuals), either in the prenatal or postpartum period. Individuals with pre- or post-delivery PMAD had higher rates of NICU admissions (13.6% and 11.4%, respectively) than those without PMAD (9.9%). Emergency department visits and outpatient utilization decreased over time for both birthing individuals and infants overall. Odds of outpatient services utilization were highest among deliveries with post-PMAD present (newborn Outpatient services aOR: 1.687, CI: 1.274, 2.233 and birthing individual Outpatient services aOR: 6.48, CI: 5.490, 7.648). The PMAD + SUD group had the highest dyadic OOPC (median: $798.32, IQR: $316.20, $1,943.74), and the post-delivery PMAD group had the second highest dyadic costs (median: $505.95, IQR: $211.29, $1,169.01), a difference of almost $300. Conclusion Results from this study demonstrate significant differences among PMAD groups (i.e., pre-delivery, post-delivery, co-occurring PMAD + SUD) compared to a group without PMAD. This might suggest that PMAD status influences changes in healthcare use or costs. Additionally, the percentage of both birthing individuals and their infants using outpatient services remained nearly identical during the study period, further emphasizing the connection between the dyad and healthcare use.
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spelling doaj-art-7300cfd75dc24677ac7222261804ea8a2025-08-20T03:05:56ZengBMCMaternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology2054-958X2025-08-0111111010.1186/s40748-025-00218-7Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disordersAshlee J. Vance0Clayton J. Shuman1Sarah Bell2Anca Tilea3Anna Courant4Karen M. Tabb5Kara Zivin6Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health SystemDepartment of Systems, Populations and Leadership, University of Michigan School of NursingDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of MichiganDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of MichiganDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical SchoolUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Social WorkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of MichiganAbstract Importance The maternal-infant connection is fundamental, not only for the psychological wellbeing of both individuals in the dyad, but for their overall health. Yet, their health outcomes are often reported as separate entities. This study offers a novel exploration about how healthcare utilization and costs are interconnected for the dyad. To address this critical gap, our study purpose was to evaluate parallel healthcare utilization outcomes and costs for the birthing person-infant dyad during the postpartum period for those with and without PMAD. The study objectives were to 1) describe healthcare utilization use and costs in the dyad and 2) assess the association of PMAD status with healthcare use and costs in the dyad. Objective To evaluate parallel healthcare utilization outcomes and costs for the birthing person-infant dyad during the postpartum period for those with and without perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD). Design A cross-sectional analysis of healthcare utilization and costs in the postpartum period for birthing individuals and their infants between 2016–2020. Setting Private insurance data of delivering women in all 50 US states. Participants The study sample included individuals with evidence of a delivery from 2016 to 2020 who delivered a live singleton newborn. Specifically, we included individuals coded as female, aged 15–44, and with continuous enrollment in a single health plan during the calendar year before and after delivery. Results The sample consisted of 101,306 birthing individuals and 108,438 infants representing 108,438 unique dyads. Most birthing individuals were between the ages of 25–39 and categorized as White (71.7% of deliveries). Births to White and Black perinatal individuals had the highest percentage with a PMAD diagnosis (21.9% of deliveries to White individuals and 17.9% of deliveries to Black individuals), either in the prenatal or postpartum period. Individuals with pre- or post-delivery PMAD had higher rates of NICU admissions (13.6% and 11.4%, respectively) than those without PMAD (9.9%). Emergency department visits and outpatient utilization decreased over time for both birthing individuals and infants overall. Odds of outpatient services utilization were highest among deliveries with post-PMAD present (newborn Outpatient services aOR: 1.687, CI: 1.274, 2.233 and birthing individual Outpatient services aOR: 6.48, CI: 5.490, 7.648). The PMAD + SUD group had the highest dyadic OOPC (median: $798.32, IQR: $316.20, $1,943.74), and the post-delivery PMAD group had the second highest dyadic costs (median: $505.95, IQR: $211.29, $1,169.01), a difference of almost $300. Conclusion Results from this study demonstrate significant differences among PMAD groups (i.e., pre-delivery, post-delivery, co-occurring PMAD + SUD) compared to a group without PMAD. This might suggest that PMAD status influences changes in healthcare use or costs. Additionally, the percentage of both birthing individuals and their infants using outpatient services remained nearly identical during the study period, further emphasizing the connection between the dyad and healthcare use.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-025-00218-7Perinatal mood and anxiety disordersInfantsMaternalDyadHealthcare utilization
spellingShingle Ashlee J. Vance
Clayton J. Shuman
Sarah Bell
Anca Tilea
Anna Courant
Karen M. Tabb
Kara Zivin
Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Infants
Maternal
Dyad
Healthcare utilization
title Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
title_full Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
title_fullStr Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
title_short Evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
title_sort evaluating birthing individual and infant healthcare utilization and costs among individuals experiencing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
topic Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Infants
Maternal
Dyad
Healthcare utilization
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40748-025-00218-7
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