In 2020, preeclampsia occurred in 2.6% of pregnancies in Norway. Preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk of premature birth and morbidity and mortality in mother and child. Currently the risk of preeclampsia later in pregnancy is assessed on the basis of maternal factors and pregnancy history. The predictive accuracy of the current assessment is limited and does not provide an optimal basis for identifying women at high risk of preeclampsia later in pregnancy. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health was commissioned by the Ordering Forum, New Methods to perform a health technology assessement of a screening program for pregnant women in gestational week 11-14.
The purpose of the program is to estimate the individual risk of preeclampsia later in pregnancy based on an algorithm. Studies indicate that the proposed screeningprogram conducted in weeks 11-14 of pregnancy will have higher predictive accuracy for identifying women at high risk for preeclampsia than current practice. For these women, prevention with acetylsalicylic acid from week 16 or earlier may reduce the incidence of preeclampsia with childbirth before the 37th week of pregnancy, thus contributing to reduced morbidity and mortality in mother and child. This projectplan is a plan for an HTA assessing clinical, financial and organizational consequences of introducing the proposed screening program in the health care service.
