Change in the Primary Measure of Perinatal Mortality for Vital Statistics

In 2022, Definition III comprised 91.4% of perinatal deaths (fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more and infant deaths younger than 28 days) compared with 60.7% of perinatal deaths captured by Definition I. The perinatal mortality rate for Definition III was about 50% higher than that for Definition I (8.27 and 5.51, respectively, in 2022). Trends in perinatal mortality were similar for both measures during 2014-2022; rates were stable from 2014 through 2016 and then declined from 2016 through 2022. For 2022, patterns by maternal race and Hispanic origin and age were also similar, but more variation in patterns was observed by state.