27 Jan 2026 • Higher maternal multimorbidity was strongly associated with severe neonatal complications and mortality. In an analysis of more than one million live births over nine years, a clear dose–response pattern emerged.

Compared with newborns of mothers without chronic illness, risk increased by 26% with one maternal condition (aRR 1.26), rose by 58% with two conditions (aRR 1.58), and doubled when mothers had three or more chronic diseases (aRR 2.01). The greatest risks were observed in pregnancies affected by complex multisystem disease (aRR 1.97), cardiometabolic conditions (aRR 2.67), and severe chronic illness requiring antenatal hospitalization (aRR 3.11).

The findings highlight the need for early recognition of women with multimorbidity, targeted preconception planning, and intensified antenatal monitoring to reduce adverse neonatal outcomes.

Source: JAMA Network | Read full story