Global prevalence of multimorbidity during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisReproductive health· Jul 2026

Global prevalence of multimorbidity during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lena Elise Wessing, Shrouq Daraiseh, Yasmin Semmane … Sunjuri Sun

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Multimorbidity & PolypharmacyMeta-analysisQ1IF 3.5

Pooled global prevalence of multimorbidity in pregnancy is about 7%.

Global prevalence of multimorbidity during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lena Elise Wessing … Sunjuri Sun

Reproductive health · Jul 2026

Background

Multimorbidity, defined as having two or more coexisting physical or mental health conditions, increases the risk of complications and need of specialist care during pregnancy.

Purpose

This systematic review aims to estimate the global and regional prevalences of multimorbidity during pregnancy, as well as to understand how multimorbidity is defined across studies.

Methods

We systematically searched four databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science) for observational studies published from January 1, 2015, to September 26, 2025, without language or geographic restrictions.

n = 6,243 studies

Results

multimorbidity affects only a small share of pregnancies globally

Asia

1.74%

North America

9.07%

Oceania

11.17%

Europe

12.64%

More results

However, the wide confidence intervals for Europe and Oceania warrant cautious interpretation of regional comparisons.

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Conclusion · 1 of 3

Multimorbidity during pregnancy is a significant and under-researched global health concern.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

The pooled prevalence of 7.18% reflects a synthesis of highly heterogeneous studies and should not be interpreted as a definitive estimate of the global burden.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

More standardized research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is needed to generate more representative prevalence estimates.

Global prevalence of multimorbidity during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Global prevalence of multimorbidity during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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