A recent study led by researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has revealed promising results regarding the use of aspirin in reducing the risk of preterm pre-eclampsia, a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Spanning across 10 Asian regions, the study highlights the effectiveness of early screening and low-dose aspirin in mitigating health risks for expectant mothers.
Published in the medical journal Circulation, the research indicates that early identification of high-risk individuals through screening at 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy, followed by a regimen of low-dose aspirin (160mg per day), can significantly decrease the incidence of preterm pre-eclampsia by 41%. Moreover, the intervention showed a 54% reduction in early onset pre-eclampsia, a condition that poses severe health risks to both mothers and infants.
Professor Liona Poon Chiu-yee, Chairwoman of CUHK’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, emphasized the importance of targeted screening to identify at-risk individuals early in their pregnancies. She noted that such measures could potentially prevent pre-eclampsia, which affects 2 to 8% of pregnant women globally and contributes to substantial maternal and perinatal mortality.
The study, conducted from August 2019 to February 2022, involved collaboration with researchers from mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Using a screening test developed jointly with Britain’s Fetal Medicine Foundation, the research team assessed 42,897 women to evaluate their risk of preterm pre-eclampsia.
Results indicated not only a reduction in pre-eclampsia risk but also significant decreases in spontaneous preterm birth (55%) and perinatal mortality (66%) among high-risk individuals who received aspirin prophylaxis.
Despite the promising outcomes, Poon cautioned that aspirin should only be administered to those identified as high-risk through screening. She underscored the safety and acceptance of the screening strategy among pregnant women across Asia, with 88% of participants endorsing the approach.
Building on the success of the study, a pilot programme offering free pre-eclampsia screening and prevention services has been implemented at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin since April 2022. Plans are underway to extend these services to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan and six additional public hospitals in the coming years, aiming to enhance maternal and perinatal health outcomes throughout Hong Kong.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in preventive healthcare for expectant mothers, demonstrating the potential for early intervention to reduce the burden of pregnancy-related complications in the region.
