Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
The aim of this study is to increase the prescription of low-dose aspirin (LDA) for prevention of preeclampsia. Low use rates, less than 25–50% of eligible patients, have been identified as a quality gap by the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The primary goal is to increase aspirin prescribing by presuming universal candidacy of all patients at the SBH Wellness Center (SBH), with a secondary goal of reducing preeclampsia rates in these patients.
METHODS:
Universal LDA prescribing was initiated at SBH on December 2023. A retrospective analysis was performed of charts of 116 patients at gestational age 12–28 weeks between February 2024 and May 2024 at SBH. Patients’ charts were assessed for risk factors for preeclampsia, aspirin eligibility according to American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines, and whether aspirin was prescribed.
RESULTS:
In this study, 99% of the patients were candidates for aspirin to prevent preeclampsia by ACOG criteria. The rate of prescribing was 81% overall and 88% in patients with high-risk factors. Prior to this initiative, rates of prescribing LDA were 30%. Rates increased to 46% after the initial intervention. In this study period, LDA prescription rates increased to 81%.
CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS:
The rate of aspirin prescription increased from 46% in our last study to 81%, demonstrating that the shift from risk-based to universal prescription increased the number of eligible patients receiving aspirin. Universal presumption of LDA eligibility could be beneficial for increasing aspirin prescription in lower-income urban communities with a similar patient demographic to that of SBH.