Download Screening for Preeclampsia: Consumer Guide (Draft

Understanding Task Force
Draft Recommendations
This fact sheet explains the Task Force’s draft recommendation statement on screening for preeclampsia. It also tells you how you can
send comments about the draft recommendation to the Task Force. Comments may be submitted from September 27 to October 24,
2016. The Task Force welcomes your comments.
Screening for Preeclampsia
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) has
issued a draft recommendation statement on screening
for preeclampsia. The Task Force recommends screening
pregnant women for preeclampsia by checking their blood
pressure throughout pregnancy. High blood pressure is
often the first sign of preeclampsia. If a mother has a high
blood pressure reading during a visit to her clinician,
follow-up testing may be needed.
What is Preeclampsia?
This draft recommendation statement applies to pregnant
women who have no signs or symptoms of preeclampsia
and who have not been diagnosed with the condition.
Preeclampsia is a serious health problem that affects pregnant women
and is associated with having high blood pressure after 20 weeks of
pregnancy. Preeclampsia can progress quickly and become severe.
If it is not monitored and treated, preeclampsia can lead to serious
complications for the mother and baby.
Facts about Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia affects about 4 percent of pregnancies in the United States. Approximately 9 percent of maternal deaths in
the United States are caused by preeclampsia and eclampsia (a complication of severe preeclampsia where the woman
has seizures during pregnancy or after giving birth). In addition, preeclampsia is a leading cause of preterm delivery and
low birth weight in the United States.
Preeclampsia can lead to complications for both the mother and baby. For the mother, preeclampsia can lead to stroke, seizures,
organ failure and, rarely, death. Complications for the baby can include slow growth inside the uterus, low birth weight, placental
abruption (the separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus before delivery), and even death.
The only way to fully treat preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. When preeclampsia is diagnosed early in pregnancy, clinicians have
to weigh the health risks of complications from preeclampsia compared to the risks of delivering the baby early (preterm delivery).
The earlier a baby is delivered, the higher the risk of complications. Other ways to manage preeclampsia include high blood
pressure medication and magnesium sulfate (to slow preterm labor and prevent seizures).
Potential Benefits and Harms of Screening for Preeclampsia
The Task force reviewed studies on the benefits and harms of screening and treatment for preeclampsia. The goal of screening is
to identify preeclampsia so it can be treated or managed before there are complications for the mother and baby. The Task Force
found that screening can identify preeclampsia and that treatment and management of preeclampsia can result in improved health
outcomes for the mother and baby. Though the harms of screening for preeclampsia are small, treatment does have potential
harms, including preterm delivery and cesarean delivery, which can lead to complications for the baby.
Comment Period from September 27 to October 24, 2016
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 1
Screening for Preeclampsia
The Draft Recommendation on Screening for Preeclampsia: What Does It Mean?
Here is the Task Force’s draft recommendation on screening for preeclampsia. It is based on the quality and strength of the evidence
about the potential benefits and harms of screening for this purpose. It also is based on the size of the potential benefits and harms.
Task Force recommendation grades are explained in the box at the end of this fact sheet.
When the Task Force makes a Grade B recommendation, it is because it has more potential benefits than potential harms.
Before you send comments to the Task Force, you may want to read the full draft recommendation statement. The recommendation
statement explains the evidence the Task Force reviewed and how it decided on the grade. An evidence document provides more detail
about the scientific studies the Task Force reviewed.
The Task Force recommends screening pregnant women
for preeclampsia with blood pressure measurements
throughout pregnancy. (Grade B)
Notes
blood pressure
measurements
Blood pressure is measured
by a clinician using a blood
pressure cuff. If a patient has
high blood pressure during
a visit, then she should be
recommended for follow-up
testing. High blood pressure
is often the first signs of
preeclampsia and one way
that clinicians screen for
this condition.
throughout pregnancy
Blood pressure should be
measured during every
clinical visit when a woman
is pregnant.
Comment Period from September 27 to October 24, 2016
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 2
Screening for Preeclampsia
What is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force?
The Task Force is an independent, volunteer group of national experts in prevention and
evidence-based medicine. The Task Force works to improve the health of all Americans
by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, such as
screenings, counseling services, and preventive medicines. The recommendations apply
to people with no signs or symptoms of the disease being discussed.
To develop a recommendation statement, Task Force members consider the best
available science and research on a topic. For each topic, the Task Force posts draft
documents for public comment, including a draft recommendation statement. All
comments are reviewed and considered in developing the final recommendation
statement. To learn more, visit the Task Force Web site.
USPSTF Recommendation Grades
Grade
Definition
A
Recommended.
B
Recommended.
C
Recommendation depends on the patient’s situation.
D
Not recommended.
I statement
Click Here to Learn More
About Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia
(Medline Plus)
Preventing Preeclampsia:
Questions for the Doctor
(healthfinder.gov)
Preeclampsia
and Eclampsia
(National Institutes
of Health)
There is not enough evidence to make a recommendation.
Click Here to Comment on the Draft Recommendation
September 27 ­
October 24, 2016
The Task Force welcomes comments
on this draft recommendation.
Comments must be received between
September 27 and October 24, 2016.
Comment Period from September 27 to October 24, 2016
All comments will be considered for
use in writing final recommendations.
Task Force DRAFT Recommendation | 3