1
|
Koi-Larbi K, Obiri D, Browne JL, Fondjo LA, Katsande S, Garti I. Advancing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy management: insights from the 5th preeclampsia scientific symposium in Ghana. BMC Proc 2024; 18:12. [PMID: 38867245 PMCID: PMC11170767 DOI: 10.1186/s12919-024-00295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The 5th Preeclampsia Scientific Symposium (PSS2023) organized by Action on Preeclampsia (APEC) Ghana was themed: 'Realign, Refocus: Improving outcomes of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy through Shared Decision Making, Research & Quality of Care'. It took place on the 18th and 19th of May 2023 at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), Accra Ghana. This transdisciplinary symposium brought together a national representation of experts, policy makers, scientists, and healthcare professionals to discuss key priorities, opportunities, approaches, and strategies to improve the maternal and perinatal outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Ghana and the sub-region. The symposium centered around three key themes: realigning/refocusing patient-doctor decision making processes to improve outcomes of HDP; realigning/refocusing clinical care to improve outcomes of HDP; and leveraging on research to predict, recognize and manage high-risk women.This report summarizes insights from the diverse presentations and discussions held at the #PSS2023. This will form a roadmap for future research, policy, and interventions to improve outcomes of HDP in Ghana and the sub-region. The symposium provided a wealth of evidence and knowledge from various experts, highlighting the need for women-centered care, equitable re-allocation of resources, multi-sectoral and innovative approaches, capacity strengthening. Other highlights include knowledge base development and increased stakeholder and community engagement with an overall aim of improving outcomes of HDP. The symposium also fostered inclusivity, welcoming survivors of HDP and their families at a scientific platform. They provided invaluable insights into the challenges faced and the lived experiences of those affected by the disease. Trainees and students also benefited from the symposium as it provided networking opportunities with fellow researchers, and a front row to gaining insights into cutting-edge research in Ghana.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koiwah Koi-Larbi
- Action On Preeclampsia Ghana (APEC-GH), Accra, Ghana.
- Severe Pre-Eclampsia Adverse Outcome Triage (SPOT) Study, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Dorotheah Obiri
- Action On Preeclampsia Ghana (APEC-GH), Accra, Ghana
- Severe Pre-Eclampsia Adverse Outcome Triage (SPOT) Study, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Joyce L Browne
- Severe Pre-Eclampsia Adverse Outcome Triage (SPOT) Study, Accra, Ghana
- Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo
- Action On Preeclampsia Ghana (APEC-GH), Accra, Ghana
- Severe Pre-Eclampsia Adverse Outcome Triage (SPOT) Study, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Isabella Garti
- Action On Preeclampsia Ghana (APEC-GH), Accra, Ghana
- Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
McDougall A, Nguyen R, Nguyen PY, Allen C, Cheang S, Makama M, Mills K, Hastie R, Ammerdorffer A, Gulmezoglu AM, Vogel JP. The effects of probiotics administration during pregnancy on preeclampsia and associated maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024; 6:101322. [PMID: 38447676 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2024.101322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence on probiotic administration during pregnancy for the prevention of preeclampsia and its effects on related maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes. DATA SOURCES Six databases were systematically searched for eligible studies, namely Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Global Index Medicus, and the Maternity and Infant Care Database, from inception to August 2, 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of probiotic administration on women during any stage of pregnancy were eligible for inclusion. METHODS The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under identifier CRD42023421613. Evaluating study eligibility, extracting data, assessing risk of bias (ROB-2 tool), and rating certainty (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) were conducted independently by 2 authors. The primary outcomes were incidence of preeclampsia, eclampsia, and maternal mortality. A meta-analysis was performed, and the results were reported as risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS A total of 29 trials (7735 pregnant women) met the eligibility criteria. There was heterogeneity across the trials in the population of enrolled women and the type of probiotic tested (20 different strains), although most used oral administration. Probiotics may make no difference to the risk of preeclampsia (risk ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.53; 11 trials; 2401 women; low certainty evidence), preterm birth at <37 weeks' gestation (risk ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.30; 18 trials, 4016 women; low certainty evidence), or gestational age at delivery (mean difference, -0.03 weeks [≈0.2 days]; 95% confidence interval, -0.16 to 0.10 weeks [≈ -1.1 to 0.7 days]; 13 trials, 2194 women; low certainty evidence). It is difficult to assess the effects of probiotics on other secondary outcomes because the evidence was of very low certainty, however, no benefits or harms were observed. CONCLUSION Limited evidence suggests that probiotic supplementation does not affect the risk for preeclampsia. Further high-quality trials are needed to definitively assess the benefits and possible harms of probiotic supplementation during pregnancy. There is also a lack of data from trials that included women who were undernourished or who experienced microbial dysbiosis and for whom probiotic supplementation might be useful.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie McDougall
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel); Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia (Dr McDougall).
| | - Renae Nguyen
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel)
| | - Phi-Yen Nguyen
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel)
| | - Connor Allen
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel)
| | - Sarah Cheang
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel)
| | - Maureen Makama
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel); School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Dr Makama and Prof Vogel)
| | - Kate Mills
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel)
| | - Roxanne Hastie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Australia (Dr Hastie)
| | - Anne Ammerdorffer
- Concept Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland (Dr Ammerdorffer and Dr Gulmezoglu)
| | - A Metin Gulmezoglu
- Concept Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland (Dr Ammerdorffer and Dr Gulmezoglu)
| | - Joshua P Vogel
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia (Dr McDougall, Ms R Nguyen, Ms P Nguyen; Mr Allen, Ms Cheang, Dr Makama, Ms Mills, and Prof Vogel); School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (Dr Makama and Prof Vogel)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Garti I, Gray M, Bromley A, Tan JYB. Pre-eclampsia training needs of midwives in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Educ Pract 2024; 75:103872. [PMID: 38244337 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to assess the specific clinical and non-clinical training needs of midwives and determine their preferred approach to enhancing performance. BACKGROUND Pre-eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in low and middle-income countries. Pre-eclampsia-related deaths may be due to reduced midwifery knowledge and inadequate management. Therefore, a training needs assessment is vital in identifying gaps in practice, especially, in poorly resourced settings for maximal use of training resources. DESIGN A hospital-based cross-sectional study. SETTING The largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. METHODS An online version of the validated WHO Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis questionnaire was used to assess midwives' training needs on the management of pre-eclampsia. The tool has good psychometric properties and was used to assess 1) midwives' confidence in performing tasks, 2) the importance of the task to their role and 3) their preferred performance improvement approach. Data analysis adhered to the guidelines specified in the Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire and the priority training requirements of the midwives were assessed through descriptive statistics and a series of independent t-tests. RESULTS Among the 250 midwives who responded, most possessed 1-5 years of experience (74.7 %). All 28 tasks were viewed by midwives as essential responsibilities in pre-eclampsia management. Midwives had the greatest need for training in research/audit and clinical skills domains respectively (p < 0.001, 95 % confidence interval: 1.08-1.47, Cohen's-D = 1.27; and p < 0.001, 95 % confidence interval: 0.69-1.06, Cohen's-D = 0.87). The foremost primary training necessity, as recognised by midwives, was undertaking health promotion activities, including antenatal health education (MD= 0.43, 95 % confidence interval: 0.29-0.57). Training courses were identified as the preferred approach to address training needs and improve overall proficiency. CONCLUSION Midwives in Ghana require comprehensive training covering research and clinical-based competencies to improve pre-eclampsia management. Considering the pivotal role of Ghanaian midwives in safeguarding maternal well-being, there is a compelling need to enhance the calibre of midwifery services. These findings can guide stakeholders in countries with comparable healthcare contexts in creating effective, resource-efficient training programs that avoid counterproductivity, ultimately supporting national initiatives to enhance pre-eclampsia management and the quality of care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Garti
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.
| | - Michelle Gray
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Angela Bromley
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Jing-Yu Benjamin Tan
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich Campus, Ipswich QLD 4305 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nguyen CM, Sallam M, Islam MS, Clack K, Soda N, Nguyen NT, Shiddiky MJA. Placental Exosomes as Biomarkers for Maternal Diseases: Current Advances in Isolation, Characterization, and Detection. ACS Sens 2023. [PMID: 37449399 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Serving as the interface between fetal and maternal circulation, the placenta plays a critical role in fetal growth and development. Placental exosomes are small membrane-bound extracellular vesicles released by the placenta during pregnancy. They contain a variety of biomolecules, including lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, which can potentially be biomarkers of maternal diseases. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the utility of placental exosomes for the diagnosis and monitoring of pathological conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. This suggests that placental exosomes may serve as new biomarkers in liquid biopsy analysis. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the biological function of placental exosomes and their potential as biomarkers of maternal diseases. Additionally, this review highlights current barriers and the way forward for standardization and validation of known techniques for exosome isolation, characterization, and detection. Finally, microfluidic devices for exosome research are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cong Minh Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Mohamed Sallam
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Md Sajedul Islam
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Kimberley Clack
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Narshone Soda
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Nam-Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Muhammad J A Shiddiky
- Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre (QMNC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science (ESC), Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Creswell L, O’Gorman N, Palmer KR, da Silva Costa F, Rolnik DL. Perspectives on the Use of Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) in the Prediction and Diagnosis of Pre-Eclampsia: Recent Insights and Future Steps. Int J Womens Health 2023; 15:255-271. [PMID: 36816456 PMCID: PMC9936876 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s368454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disease of pregnancy that is becoming increasingly recognized as a state of angiogenic imbalance characterized by low concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and elevated soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1). PlGF is a protein highly expressed by the placenta with vasculogenic and angiogenic properties, which has a central role in spiral artery remodeling and the development of a low-resistance placental capillary network. PlGF concentrations are significantly lower in women with preterm PE, and these reduced levels have been shown to precede the clinical onset of disease. Subsequently, the clinical utility of maternal serum PlGF has been extensively studied in singleton gestations from as early as 11 to 13 weeks' gestation, utilizing a validated multimarker prediction model, which performs superiorly to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines in the detection of preterm PE. There is extensive research highlighting the role of PlGF-based testing utilizing commercially available assays in accelerating the diagnosis of PE in symptomatic women over 20 weeks' gestation and predicting time-to-delivery, allowing individualized risk stratification and appropriate antenatal surveillance to be determined. "Real-world" data has shown that interpretation of PlGF-based test results can aid clinicians in improving maternal outcomes and a growing body of evidence has implied a role for sFlt-1/PlGF in the prognostication of adverse pregnancy and perinatal events. Subsequently, PlGF-based testing is increasingly being implemented into obstetric practice and is advocated by NICE. This literature review aims to provide healthcare professionals with an understanding of the role of angiogenic biomarkers in PE and discuss the evidence for PlGF-based screening and triage. Prospective studies are warranted to explore if its implementation significantly improves perinatal outcomes, explore the value of repeat PlGF testing, and its use in multiple pregnancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsay Creswell
- Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland,Correspondence: Lyndsay Creswell, Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Cork Street, Dublin, D08XW7X, Ireland, Tel +44 7754235257, Email
| | - Neil O’Gorman
- Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kirsten Rebecca Palmer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fabricio da Silva Costa
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Gold Coast University Hospital and School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Lorber Rolnik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
A bibliometric analysis of the research on preeclampsia in the first two decades of the twenty-first century. J Hypertens 2022; 40:1126-1164. [PMID: 35285451 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia still remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. Despite the concerted efforts of researchers, only a little improvement has been seen. Clinical decision-making is based on the published literatures. With the explosive growth of medical documents in recent decades, a bibliometric method is essential for assessing the intellectual contributions, major components and potential trends. METHODS Web of Science Core Collections was selected as the original database and datasets were retrieved consisting of literatures published from 2000 to 2020. Different bibliometric software were employed to visualize the co-authorship network, citation analysis and research theme detection. RESULTS A total of 25 497 articles and 3668 reviews were obtained. Despite the number of publications increased annually, the quantity of high-quality contributions did not elevate accordingly. Clinical practitioners should be alerted to the false bloom of achievements and the yield of improvement in future research. Nicolaides Kypros H was found to be the most productive and influential researcher. University of Pittsburgh was the most productive institution whereas Harvard University showed its leading academic status. America located at the central point in global collaboration and scholarship network. Reference citation analysis revealed the top landmark articles. Moreover, keywords co-occurrence analysis and burst detection certificated the lack of novel themes in this field, which needs further efforts. CONCLUSION This study provides the overall landscape of science mapping in recent two decades in the field of preeclampsia, with the aim of identifying evolution of research topics and promoting potential concentration or collaboration in the future.
Collapse
|
7
|
Garti I, Gray M, Bromley A, Tan JYB. A qualitative document analysis of policies influencing preeclampsia management by midwives in Ghana. Women Birth 2022; 35:612-618. [PMID: 35074303 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia is a global issue that causes significant morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The care women with preeclampsia receive in LMICs is below the standard experienced by women in westernised countries due to multiple interacting factors. A review of policy factors influencing the management of preeclampsia in Ghana is needed. AIM This study focuses on the midwife's role and scope of practice concerning preeclampsia management. The study aimed to explore the congruence between Ghanaian preeclampsia guidelines and international best practice recommendations for midwifery practice. The study also aimed to describe how recommendations are incorporated into Ghanaian guidelines. METHOD/DESIGN This study was a qualitative document analysis of national and tertiary hospital policies related to midwives' scope of practice in Ghana. Altheide's five-step process (sampling, data collection, data coding and organisation, data analysis and report) was used to systematically source and analyse the content of written documents. RESULTS The findings illustrated several recommendation shortcomings in Ghanaian documents at the national and tertiary hospital levels. The content of Ghanaian preeclampsia management guidelines was not comprehensive, contained conflicting information, and was not backed by research evidence. The standards of practice for midwives were consistent at both the national and tertiary hospital levels. Midwives had limited roles in detection, management, stabilisation, and referral of women with preeclampsia. CONCLUSION Uniform guidelines incorporating international recommendations are urgently needed to improve multi-professional collaboration, solidify midwives' roles, and optimise maternal and fetal outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Garti
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia.
| | - Michelle Gray
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia
| | - Angela Bromley
- College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | | |
Collapse
|