For the first time, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended screening asymptomatic pregnant women for all hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and not just pre-eclampsia.^1,2

The draft recommendation statement “Screening for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy” was published on February 7, 2023. Women found to have high BP should be accorded appropriate management.

It has been given Grade B recommendation, which according to the Task Force means that “clinicians should offer or provide the service to eligible patients as there is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial”.³

In this draft recommendation, the USPSTF has expanded upon its 2017 recommendation of screening for pre-eclampsia in all pregnant women. It further states that measuring BP at every antenatal visit is “the best approach”.

The draft recommendations are in public domain on USPSTF website for comments till March 6, 2023.

References

1. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/hypertensive-disorders-pregnancy-screening#bootstrap-panel--6, February 07, 2023. Accessed on Feb. 8, 2023.
2. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/987977?src=, February 07, 2023. Accessed on Feb. 8, 2023.
3. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/about-uspstf/methods-and-processes/grade-definitions#:~:text=B%20%2D%20Recommended%3A%20The%20USPSTF%20recommends,concludes%20that%20benefits%20outweigh%20harms. Accessed on Feb. 8, 2023.