WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- To help address
the unprecedented maternal health crisis affecting American women
and support prenatal and postpartum care, Aetna, a CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) company, has launched a new initiative as part of the
Aetna Maternity Program.
"Over the past two decades we've seen a steady rise in
pregnancy-related deaths, and significant racial and ethnic
disparities persist that can lead to poor maternal outcomes," said
Troy Brennan, M.D., CVS Health Chief
Medical Officer. "The main contributors to this crisis reflect
deep-rooted issues within our health care system that we must
address, including limited access to care."
Building on a long-standing commitment to connect expectant moms
with care that meets their unique needs, this first-of-its-kind
initiative is focused specifically on preventing preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and
death that is characterized by new-onset hypertension during
pregnancy. Preeclampsia can lead to serious maternal complications,
including stroke, seizure and organ failure and accounts for 15
percent of all preterm births in the U.S. Rates of the condition
have increased 25 percent in the last ten years
alone.1
According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. is one of
the only high-income countries where deaths related to
pregnancy or childbirth are on the rise. Black women are
also being disproportionately affected, with rates of severe
maternal morbidity and mortality two to three times that of white
women.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges, as many
expectant moms may be attending fewer in-person prenatal care
visits. In turn, they may increase their risk of developing
complications that go undetected.
Recent recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) and multiple medical professional societies
recommend low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia for
women at high risk for developing the condition. By
leveraging data analytics, the Aetna Maternity Program identifies
pregnant women with risk factors for developing the condition for
individualized outreach and education. Women at high risk are sent
a personalized prenatal care kit that contains educational
materials along with an 81-mg bottle of low-dose aspirin, a
low-cost intervention that may reduce the risk for developing the
condition. Members receive an appointment reminder card encouraging
them to speak with their pregnancy care provider about the
potential benefits of low-dose aspirin and whether it is right for
them. All pregnant members are also mailed information developed by
the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine on preeclampsia and
prevention steps.
"This is an innovative, simple way to promote safer pregnancies
by enhancing awareness about an important cause of maternal and
infant harm," said Daniel Knecht,
M.D., Vice President of Clinical Product for CVS Health. "This
initiative is also designed to help close gaps in knowledge by
supporting members in conversations with their providers."
Low-dose aspirin as a preventive therapy
While there is no cure for preeclampsia, taking one low-dose
aspirin a day has been shown to reduce the risk of the condition
and some of its complications. Pregnant women with risk factors
such as hypertension, Type 1 or 2 diabetes, obesity, and a history
of preeclampsia benefit from the use of prenatal aspirin, according
to the USPSTF. When this therapy was started in the first trimester
in at-risk women, it reduced the incidence of hypertension by 24%
and preterm birth by 14%.
To further support women's health, Aetna is exploring additional
ways to partner with network physicians and provide this latest
guidance.
"CVS Health has delivery channels that can bring critical
information and resources such as low-dose aspirin right to
members' doorsteps. This outreach is coupled with a care management
program featuring highly trained and dedicated nurses to support
the personalized needs of pregnant members," noted Joanne Armstrong, M.D., head of Women's Health
for CVS Health and an OB/GYN.
For more information about the Aetna Maternity Program and the
company's efforts to prevent preeclampsia, click here.
About CVS Health
CVS Health employees are united around a common goal of becoming
the most consumer-centric health company. We're evolving based on
changing consumer needs and meeting people where they are, whether
that's in the community at one of our nearly 10,000 local
touchpoints, in the home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest
offerings – from HealthHUB® locations that are redefining what a
pharmacy can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic
conditions – are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and
more affordable experience. Learn more about how we're transforming
health at www.cvshealth.com.
Contact:
Kathleen
Biesecker
bieseckerk@aetna.com
703-472-8466
1
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/low-dose-aspirin-use-for-the-prevention-of-morbidity-and-mortality-from-preeclampsia-preventive-medication
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SOURCE CVS Health