In the English Vocabulary Profile at B2:
to make matters worse = to make a situation more difficult, unpleasant, etc.
If the most common example of to-infinitive + noun + comparative is listed at B2, then it would make sense that other less common should also be considered as B2. The closest form which is clearly simpler in the English Grammar Profile is ‘make + something + adjective‘ at B1.
A search in NOW corpus for:
_TO _VVI _NN _JJR
1 TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE 15609
To make matters worse, she fell in love.
2 TO MAKE THINGS WORSE 2507
3 TO MAKE LIFE SIMPLER 204
Our aim is to make life simpler with secure transactions and innovations.
4 TO PUSH PRICES HIGHER 181
5 TO MAKE THINGS SIMPLER 179
6 TO MAKE AUGUSTMAN.COM EASIER 162
7 TO MAKE TAX SIMPLER 126
8 TO DRIVE PRICES HIGHER 101
9 TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPIER 92
10 TO MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER 77
11 TO MAKE WORKPLACES HEALTHIER 74
12 TO MAKE THINGS FAIRER 71
To make things tougher, you‘re instinctively heading for a romantic setting in which to continue your beautiful friendship.
A search in COCA for:
_TO _V * _N more _JJ
1 TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE 11
2 TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT 8
The purpose is to understand various systems and to take out some of the best out of them
as per the local needs in order to make the system more efficient.
3 TO MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE 6
4 TO MAKE THE AREA MORE ATTRACTIVE 5
It also helps to make the area more attractive as a tourist destination
which is important for the economy and employment in the area.
5 TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE MORE PLEASANT 5
6 TO MAKE THEIR JOB MORE DIFFICULT 5
7 TO MAKE YOUR STAY MORE COMFORTABLE 5
8 TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE 4
9 TO MAKE THE GAME MORE ATTRACTIVE 4
10 TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE OPEN 4
11 TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE DIFFICULT 4
12 TO MAKE YOUR STAY MORE ENJOYABLE 4
13 TO MAKE YOUR STAY MORE PLEASANT 4
14 TO MAKE A GIFT MORE PERSONAL 3
15 TO MAKE BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE MORE ACCESSIBLE 3