Adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia: Do primary care physicians refer to them in their medical files?. (12th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alon, Nachshol; Tandeter, Howard; Hod, Keren; Freud, Tamar; Sheiner, Eyal
• Is Part Of: Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. Volume 35:Number 25(2022)
• Page Start: 8803
• Page End: 8809
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12
• Subjects: Adverse pregnancy outcomes -- primary care physician -- gestational diabetes -- preeclampsia -- post-partum screening; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.2005023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7058

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: Pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or preeclampsia should be considered risk factors for subsequent morbidity later in a women's life. Appropriate screening tests have been recommended for these women. We sought to evaluate whether primary care physicians document diagnoses of GDM or preeclampsia in the medical files during the post-partum period and to elicit whether appropriate screening tests were performed. Materials and methods: The medical records of 352 women discharged from the maternity ward with a diagnosis of GDM or preeclampsia were examined 12 weeks post-partum. We recorded whether a primary care visit occurred, if a relevant diagnosis was documented and if screening tests were conducted. Results: In our cohort, 89.2% of the GDM group and 81.0% of the preeclampsia group visited a primary care physician at least once. About 12.9% ( n = 25) of the GDM group and 12.7% ( n = 20) of the preeclampsia group were given a correct diagnosis; 40.7% of the GDM group underwent a diabetes screening test and 27.8% of the preeclampsia group underwent a blood pressure measurement. Conclusion: We concluded that diagnoses of GDM and pre-eclampsia are not well-documented by primary physicians and that recommended screening tests are not being sufficiently performed.