SAFE@HOME: Digital health platform facilitating a new care path for women at increased risk of preeclampsia - A case-control study

Abstract Objective In women at risk of developing preeclampsia, we evaluated the use of a digital health platform for telemonitoring blood pressure and symptoms combined with a minimal antenatal visit schedule. Study design A case-control study for women with chronic hypertension, history of preeclampsia, or maternal cardiac or kidney disease. A care path was designed with reduced visits enhanced with a digital platform (SAFE@HOME) for daily blood pressure and symptom monitoring starting from 16 weeks of gestation. Home-measurements were monitored in-hospital by obstetric professionals, taking actions upon alarming results. This prospective SAFE@HOME group was compared to a retrospective control group managed without self-monitoring. Main outcome measures Primary: healthcare consumption (number of antenatal visits, ultrasounds, admissions and diagnostics), user experiences of the platform. Secondary: maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results Baseline characteristics of the SAFE@HOME (n=103) and control group (n=133) were comparable. In the SAFE@HOME group, antenatal visits (mean 13.7 vs 16.0, p Conclusions Our care path including blood pressure telemonitoring for women at risk of preeclampsia allows fewer antenatal visits, ultrasounds and hypertension-related admissions. We observed no differences in perinatal outcomes. These results suggest that telemonitoring of blood pressure is feasible in a high-risk pregnant population and has the potential to profoundly change antenatal care.