VOLUME 17 (Supplement)

A 5-year review of preeclampsia screening in a tertiary private hospital in the Philippines: A retrospective cohort study

Preeclampsia remains a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, contributing to about 76,000 maternal deaths and 150,000 perinatal deaths annually. Despite numerous studies on predictive factors and screening tests for preeclampsia, local consensus on the optimal strategy remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the predictive accuracy and detection rate of preeclampsia screening in a tertiary private hospital. A retrospective descriptive cohort study was conducted on pregnant patients who underwent preeclampsia screening from 2018 to 2022. Data analysis involved quantitative methods, assessing predictive accuracy and detection rates for preeclampsia onset at < 34, < 37, and < 40 weeks of gestation. Of the 156 subjects, 8.3% developed preeclampsia, with most cases exhibiting severe features (3.8%). Based on the onset, 3.8% were late-onset, 3.2% early-onset, and 1.2% postpartum. Chronic hypertension emerged as a significant risk factor. Predictive accuracy was highest for early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks), reaching 94.23%, while overall predictive accuracy across all gestational ages was 83.12%. Detection rate was also highest for early-onset preeclampsia (100%) but was noted to decrease in later onset specifically 75% and 25% for <37 weeks and <40 weeks, respectively. Aspirin prophylaxis was administered to screen-positive patients, resulting in a 75% reduction in preeclampsia development. This local study underscores the importance of preeclampsia screening, showcasing its strengths in detecting early-onset cases but also its limitations, particularly in identifying term preeclampsia. Compared to traditional tests relying on maternal factors, it demonstrated superior accuracy and higher detection rates, maximizing the benefits of aspirin prophylaxis.