Prioritisation of Tests for the Prediction of Preeclampsia Complications: A Delphi Survey

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is associated with several maternal and fetal complications. Numerous tests—including patient history, physical examination findings, and laboratory investigations—are used to predict such complications in women with preeclampsia. At present, there are no robust systematic reviews or large studies examining the accuracy of tests that could predict complications in women with preeclampsia. Objective: To identify the tests (which include items of history, examination, and investigations) that are clinically relevant in predicting maternal and fetal complications in women with preeclampsia. Methods: A two-generational Delphi method was used to prioritize the clinically relevant tests that are considered helpful in predicting the maternal and fetal complications of preeclampsia. Results: Blood pressure was rated as the best predictor of complications with mean score (± SD) of 4.7 (± 0.47), followed by proteinuria 4.6 (± 0.5) and liver function tests 4.5 (± 0.52). Conclusion: The list of tests that have been identified and prioritized will form the basis for future systematic reviews of the literature in this field.

Keywords:

• Preeclampsia
• Complications
• Prediction
• Delphi method