Objective
The authors evaluated the differences in preterm birth rates in the setting of pre-eclampsia by gestational age (GA) at birth and between different racial/ethnic groups.
Study Design
This is a retrospective cohort study of all pregnant women delivered in California in 2006, separated into two cohorts: pre-eclampsia and no pre-eclampsia. Outcome data were tabulated by four GA groups (24–27, 28–31, 32–36 and 37–42 weeks) and stratified by race/ethnicity.
Results
Women with pre-eclampsia are at a significantly increased risk of delivering at earlier GAs as compared to women without pre-eclampsia at all GA groups analysed (p<0.001): 24–27 weeks, 0.4% vs 1.4%; 28–31 weeks, 0.8% vs 4.9%; and 32–36 weeks, 9.1% vs 28.2%. Preterm delivery rates in the setting of pre-eclampsia varied by race/ethnicity and were significantly lower in Latinas (p<0.001): 31.4% in Latinas, 37.2% in Caucasians, 38.2% in African Americans and 38.9% in Asians.
Conclusion
Although African American women without pre-eclampsia experience higher preterm birth rates than other racial/ethnic groups, this effect is not seen in African American women with pre-eclampsia. In the setting of pre-eclampsia, Latinas have fewer preterm births than other racial/ethnic groups.
Objective
The authors investigated whether low-dose aspirin (ASA) is a cost-effective means of reducing the risk of pre-eclampsia.
Study Design
A decision analytic model was designed comparing ASA prophylaxis vs no prophylaxis in a theoretical cohort of 100 000 pregnant women. Costs and prevalences were derived from existing randomised controlled trails. Utilities were applied to discounted life expectancy to generate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which were discounted at 3%. A cost-effectiveness threshold of $100 000/QALY was utilised.
Results
ASA prophylaxis is the dominant strategy. It is both cheaper ($18 720 vs $18 804) and marginally more effective (26.7417 QALYs vs 26.7422 QALYs). Additionally, negative outcomes associated with pre-eclampsia were reduced in the intervention group, most notably fewer preterm births (10 312 vs 10 251). In sensitivity analysis, when the authors varied the efficacy of ASA prophylaxis, it remained cost-effective up to a relative risk of 0.91 for all nulliparous women and 0.98 for women with a 25% risk of pre-eclampsia.
Conclusion
Low-dose ASA appears to be a cost-effective prophylaxis for pre-eclampsia over a wide range of assumptions, particularly for women at elevated risk for pre-eclampsia.
Abstract PM.42Outcomes for 100,000 Nulliparous Pregnant Women
NO ASA
ASA
Preeclampsia
5000
4150
Preterm Births
103120
10250.5
Neonatal Death
257.1
256.9
Maternal Deaths
13.8
13.1
Neurodevelopmental Disability
370.9
369.7
Costs
51,880,421,000
51,871,989,000
QALYs
2674174.1
2674224.
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