Open AccessLow‐Dose Aspirin for Preventing Preeclampsia and Its Complications: A Meta‐Analysis
Author(s) -
Xu Tingting,
Zhou Fan,
Deng Chunyan,
Huang Guiqiong,
Li Jinke,
Wang Xiaodong
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/jch.12541
Subject(s) - medicine , preeclampsia , aspirin , odds ratio , incidence (geometry) , obstetrics , placental abruption , confidence interval , randomized controlled trial , pregnancy , intrauterine growth restriction , gestational age , fetus , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Low‐dose aspirin ( LDA ) is thought to prevent preeclampsia in high‐risk pregnancy, but it is not universally used out of concern for its efficacy and safety. The authors meta‐analyzed 29 randomized controlled trials ( RCT s) to evaluate LDA for preventing preeclampsia and its complications. LDA can reduce the incidence of preeclampsia (odds ratio [ OR ], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [ CI ], 0.57–0.87), severe preeclampsia ( OR , 0.37; 95% CI , 0.23–0.61), preterm birth ( OR , 0.81; 95% CI , 0.75–0.88), and intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR ) ( OR , 0.80; 95% CI , 0.71–0.90). LDA is more effective in reducing incidence of preeclampsia or IUGR if used before 16 gestational weeks than if used later. LDA increases the incidence of placental abruption ( OR , 1.35; 95% CI , 1.05–1.73) but not other major complications. The available evidence suggests that LDA is effective in preventing preeclampsia, preterm birth, and IUGR in high‐risk pregnancies without posing a major safety risk to mothers or fetuses.