US Preventative Services Task Force reiterates recommendation for prenatal blood pressure checks
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released today a final recommendation statement on screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The Task Force recommends that all pregnant people have their blood pressure measured throughout pregnancy. Regular prenatal blood pressure checks remain the only recommended screening test for preeclampsia at the time of this publication. To view the recommendation, the evidence on which it is based, and a summary for clinicians, please go here. The final recommendation statement can also be found in the September 19 online issue of JAMA. This recommendation is consistent with the 2017 recommendation statement, which recommends screening with blood pressure measurements throughout pregnancy ("B" recommendation).
The USPSTF is a group of independent volunteer medical experts whose recommendations help guide doctors’ decisions. While it is already standard practice for blood pressure measurements to be taken during every prenatal visit, the official USPSTF recommendation gives health practitioners a definable treatment plan and the weight of expert opinion. Going forward, pregnant people might notice their doctor paying closer attention to their blood pressure during routine visits.
"The Task Force continues to find that measuring blood pressure at each prenatal visit is an effective way to screen for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy,” says Task Force member Esa Davis, M.D., M.P.H. “Because these conditions can cause serious health issues, screening is an important way to keep pregnant people and their babies healthy.”
Related Articles
Nurses play a vital role in detecting preeclampsia and caring for patient before, during, and beyond pregnancy.
A key component needed in the fight against preeclampsia is the development of tests for simple, rapid, and accurate diagnosis and prediction through the development and adoption of biomarkers.
As a first step to address the need for self-monitored blood pressure, the Preeclampsia Foundation started providing the Cuff Kit™ in June 2020 to women at highest risk of developing preeclampsia and...
Every woman should be able to check her own blood pressure at home.
Order our Ask About Aspirin Rack Card. Aspirin can prevent the formation of blood clots. This can make aspirin useful in treating or preventing some conditions like heart attacks and st...
Washington, DC – April 11, 2024 – On April 10, one day before the start of Black Maternal Health Week, the Preeclampsia Foundation in partnership with Thermo Fisher Diagnostics held a Hill...
Recently, I came across a social media post calling attention to the global maternal health crisis from a Black woman’s perspective. Someone responded to the post asking, “What’s rac...
The Preeclampsia Foundation announced today that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded new funding for its MoMMAs Voices program, a national coalition of patient advocacy organi...
September 7, 2023 - Rockville, Md. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)— awarded an evaluation a...
SAN FRANCISCO - April 28, 2023 A new special report published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG) provides a methodical, comprehensive approach to managing preeclampsia, one...