Research from Bogazici University Yields New Study Findings on Postpartum Depression (Neighborhood socioeconomic status and postpartum depression among commercial health insurance enrollees: a retrospective cohort study): Mental Health Diseases and Conditions – Postpartum Depression

2024 NOV 22 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on postpartum depression have been published. According to news reporting from Bogazici University by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent psychological condition. Although the effect of obstetrical and maternal complications on PPD are well described, the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) on PPD is relatively unexplored.”

The news editors obtained a quote from the research from Bogazici University: “This study examined the relationship between neighborhood SES score and PPD. A summary SES measure for each U.S. zip code was constructed using income, education, and occupational 2021 Census data and linked to national commercial claims for 2017-2023. PPD status using diagnosis codes at outpatient and inpatient visits, and prescription drug use 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postpartum, were determined. Multivariate analysis controlled for potential confounders. PPD prevalence in commercial claims was 11.48%. Patients with PPD had higher rates of obstetrical (OR: 1.555, p < .0001) and maternal complications (OR: 1.145, p < .0001), and more lifestyle risk factors (OR: 1.113, p < .0001). Comorbidity scores were higher for patients with PPD. Controlling for age and clinical factors, living in a disadvantaged neighborhood was associated with an increased incidence of PPD (OR: 1.137, p < .0001). Limitations Claims data may include potential inaccurate coding of diagnoses/procedures. Clinical information is limited to conditions and treatments defined by ICD-10-CM codes. Area-based SES measures inevitably misclassify people on both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum (this misclassification is random; direction of bias is known).”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The inverse and significant effect of area-based high SES on PPD rates demonstrates that preventive efforts may require interventions focusing on both the patient and the lived environment.”

For more information on this research see: Neighborhood socioeconomic status and postpartum depression among commercial health insurance enrollees: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 2024,24(1):1-11. (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth - http://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com). The publisher for BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth is BMC.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06882-5.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Onur Baser, Department of Economics, Bogazici University. Additional authors for this research include Lauren Isenman, Erdem Baser, Wenjing Li, Burhan Cigdem.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)