Low-dose aspirin administration helps in reducing preterm birth risk
Low-doses of aspirin on a daily basis can help reduce preterm birth risks among first-time pregnancy. The medication can be administered from the 6th week until the 36th week.
The clinical trial, which involved more than 11,000 women in several low-and-middle income countries, found that women taking daily low-dose aspirin were 11 % less likely to deliver before the 37th week of pregnancy, compared to those given a placebo.
Research study suggest that low-dose aspirin therapy in early pregnancy could provide an inexpensive way to lower the preterm borth rate in 1st-time mothers, said the study author.
Preterm birth is the most common cause of infant death and the leading cause of long-term neurological disability in children. According to the study authors, advances in newborn care have improved survival for preterm infants, but this care is limited or unavailable in many parts of the world.
Earlier studies have suggested that low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of preterm birth and preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening blood pressure disorder of pregnancy. However, these studies were not large enough to statistically determine the therapy's effectiveness in reducing preterm birth.
The researchers enrolled 11,976 women with a 1st time pregnancy from 7 sites in India, Pakistan, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala and Kenya. Roughly half were assigned at random to receive 81 mg of aspirin daily, the other group received a daily placebo.
Preterm birth ( before 37 weeks) occurred in 11.6% of the women who took aspirin and in 13.1 % of the women who took the placebo. Similarly, birth before 34 weeks ( early preterm delivery) occurred in 3.3% of the aspirin group and 4 % of the placebo group ( a 25% reduction).
Women in the aspirin group also had a lower rate of perinatal mortality ( stillbirth or newborn death in the 1st 7 days of life), compared to the placebo group ( 45.7 per 1,000 births vs 53.6 per 1,000 births.
The risk of high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy at term did not differ significantly between the groups. The low cost and safety of low-dose aspirin therapy suggest that it could be easily adapted for wide-scale use.
The clinical trial, which involved more than 11,000 women in several low-and-middle income countries, found that women taking daily low-dose aspirin were 11 % less likely to deliver before the 37th week of pregnancy, compared to those given a placebo.
Research study suggest that low-dose aspirin therapy in early pregnancy could provide an inexpensive way to lower the preterm borth rate in 1st-time mothers, said the study author.
Preterm birth is the most common cause of infant death and the leading cause of long-term neurological disability in children. According to the study authors, advances in newborn care have improved survival for preterm infants, but this care is limited or unavailable in many parts of the world.
Earlier studies have suggested that low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of preterm birth and preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening blood pressure disorder of pregnancy. However, these studies were not large enough to statistically determine the therapy's effectiveness in reducing preterm birth.
The researchers enrolled 11,976 women with a 1st time pregnancy from 7 sites in India, Pakistan, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala and Kenya. Roughly half were assigned at random to receive 81 mg of aspirin daily, the other group received a daily placebo.
Preterm birth ( before 37 weeks) occurred in 11.6% of the women who took aspirin and in 13.1 % of the women who took the placebo. Similarly, birth before 34 weeks ( early preterm delivery) occurred in 3.3% of the aspirin group and 4 % of the placebo group ( a 25% reduction).
Women in the aspirin group also had a lower rate of perinatal mortality ( stillbirth or newborn death in the 1st 7 days of life), compared to the placebo group ( 45.7 per 1,000 births vs 53.6 per 1,000 births.
The risk of high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy at term did not differ significantly between the groups. The low cost and safety of low-dose aspirin therapy suggest that it could be easily adapted for wide-scale use.