Bridging the gap in pre-eclampsia research through evidence surveillance

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (notably, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) are a significant cause of severe morbidity, long-term disability and death among both mothers and their babies. Worldwide, they account for approximately 14% of all maternal deaths. WHO guidelines support healthcare providers in the prevention, early diagnosis, management, and treatment of pre-eclampsia, ultimately enhancing the quality of care delivered to pregnant women. Ongoing evidence surveillance on pre-eclampsia plays a critical role in informing development and update of WHO guidelines. This PhD project will use systematic review methods to identify current evidence gaps relating to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, management and treatment of pre-eclampsia. The project can explore one or more of the following questions: 1) What are the most effective strategies for optimising pre-eclampsia risk screening and diagnosis in health care settings? 2) What are the main outcomes that women (and their families) value in relation to interventions for prevention and management of pre-eclampsia? 3) How can blood pressure measurement be optimised for managing pre-eclampsia? 4) What are the most cost-effective interventions for pre-eclampsia prevention and treatment? Impact: Continuously monitoring emerging data will ensure that clinical recommendations remain current, evidence-based and relevant. By supporting informed clinical practice, evidence surveillance contributes to reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, thereby improving health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.