[Important Considerations of Low-Dose Aspirin in the Prevention of Preeclampsia].

Low-dose prophylactic aspirin is widely recommended for pregnant women for the prevention of preeclampsia (PE). Although the efficacy of aspirin in preventing PE has been evaluated in many studies, due to the differences in dosage, initiation time, and screening methods for the identification of women at high risk of PE and the lack of a uniform opinion on the medication regimen of aspirin, currently in China there is no consensus on the standardized treatment scheme of aspirin for the prevention of PE in clinical guidelines. Herein, we reviewed the current available evidence and the recommendations of clinical guidelines concerning the controversies about aspirin dosage as well as the timing of starting and stopping aspirin, so as to provide further guidance for clinical practice. Based on the existing research findings on and clinical practice of using aspirin for PE prevention, we suggested that PE risk screening should be conducted at 11-13+6 weeks of gestation. In addition, the recommended dose for prophylactic use of aspirin for pregnant women at high risk of PE is 150 mg/d, and the recommended minimum effective dose is 100 mg/d. Pregnant women at high risk of PE should start taking low-dose aspirin orally before 16 weeks of pregnancy. Week 36 of gestation is considered the window of opportunity for discontinuation of low-dose aspirin.

Protocol for a Sequential, Prospective Meta-Analysis to Describe COVID-19 in Pregnancy and Newborn Periods

We urgently need answers to basic epidemiological questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant and postpartum women and its effect on their newborns. While many national registries, health facilities, and research groups are collecting relevant data, we need a collaborative and methodologically rigorous approach to better combine these data and address knowledge gaps, especially those related to rare outcomes. We propose that using a sequential, prospective meta-analysis (PMA) is the best approach to generate data for policy- and practice-oriented guidelines. As the pandemic evolves, additional studies identified retrospectively by the steering committee or through living systematic reviews will be invited to participate in this PMA. Investigators can contribute to the PMA by either submitting individual patient data or running standardized code to generate aggregate data estimates. For the primary analysis, we will pool data using two-stage meta-analysis methods. The meta-analyses will be updated as additional data accrue in each contributing study and as additional studies meet study-specific time or data accrual thresholds for sharing. At the time of publication, investigators of 25 studies, including more than 76,000 pregnancies, in 41 countries had agreed to share data for this analysis. Among the included studies, 12 have a contemporaneous comparison group of pregnancies without COVID-19, and four studies include a comparison group of non-pregnant women of reproductive age with COVID-19. Protocols and updates will be maintained publicly. Results will be shared with key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) Research Working Group. Data contributors will share results with local stakeholders. Scientific publications will be published in open-access journals on an ongoing basis.