Latest news with #USPSTF
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New Study in JAMA Network Open Shows Current Approaches to Assessing Preeclampsia Risk Are Failing the Majority of Pregnant Moms
By relying on maternal characteristics and broad demographics, guidelines identify 9 out of 10 pregnancies at increased risk, resulting in ineffective preventive care SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 17, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new study sponsored by Mirvie, which is the first to evaluate U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines for preeclampsia risk and aspirin prescription in a single, nationally representative, prospective population, found while high-risk factors had sufficient value in estimating risk, there's limited value for the moderate risk category - leading to nonspecific recommendations for aspirin use, a recognized prevention tool. This cohort study of 5684 participants, culled from the multi-center Miracle of Life prospective study, found the guidelines identified nearly 89% of pregnancies at increased risk of preeclampsia. 70.3% were in the moderate risk category, defined by maternal characteristics and broad demographics including age, body mass index, and race, while 18.5% were in the high risk category, which includes patients with conditions like chronic hypertension or prior history of preeclampsia. The study findings suggest that the murkiness of moderate risk factors may influence clinicians' decisions regarding daily aspirin recommendations. While 82% of women with a high risk factor were recommended daily aspirin, only 37% of those with one or more moderate risk factors were given this recommendation. USPSTF, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) all endorse guidance to consider or recommend starting aspirin between 12 to 28 weeks' gestation for pregnancies with moderate risk factors. "Identifying 9 out of 10 women as at risk is not helping and overburdens care teams and pregnant patients, too," said Dr. Thomas McElrath, vice president of clinical development at Mirvie and a practicing maternal-fetal medicine physician at Mass General Brigham, as well as lead author of the study. "Physicians may be reluctant to prescribe aspirin when the majority of their patients fall into the moderate risk category. This is compounded by less than 25% compliance with aspirin use by patients in the moderate risk category." Most pregnant women in the study (70.3%) fell into the moderate risk category using the USPSTF guidelines, but having one or more moderate risk factors and no high-risk factors were not predictive of preeclampsia risk. Among individuals with 2 or more moderate risk factors but without any high risk factor, nulliparity was associated with modestly increased risk of preeclampsia (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.35-1.62; P < .001); there was little or no association with obesity (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22; P = .048), Black race (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.80-1.14; P = .63), and advanced maternal age (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.96; P = .02). "Rates of preeclampsia in the US have doubled in the past 15 years and continue to rise with no end in sight," said Kara Boeldt, a preeclampsia survivor and Founder and Executive Director of "The introduction of the USPSTF guidelines in 2021 didn't do anything to reverse course on the rise of preeclampsia. This important and eye-opening study highlights that we need new approaches that can predict who's truly at risk for preeclampsia, which can be so dangerous for moms and their babies. This is why I am incredibly encouraged and excited by the innovation being led by companies like Mirvie, which can finally offer some pregnant women and their care teams a clear, personalized prediction of their preeclampsia risk with a simple blood test during pregnancy." "The findings of this important study confirm the need for clear, objective measures of preeclampsia risk prediction, to motivate preventive care," said Maneesh Jain, CEO and co-founder of Mirvie. "With innovation like Encompass™, we can now deliver preventive care to the right patients at the right time and impact rates of preterm birth." About the Miracle of Life study The Mirvie-sponsored Miracle of Life study examined nearly 11,000 pregnancies across the U.S., including 22,000 cell-free RNA transcripts per patient which resulted in 200 million data points overall, making it the largest study of molecular health in pregnancy of its kind. The landmark research study on pregnancy health, in collaboration with leading experts in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine, uncovers how RNA messages present in expectant mothers' blood can predict life-threatening pregnancy complications. One area of study relates to cell-free RNA's prediction of preeclampsia months in advance, a leading cause of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. About Mirvie Mirvie is bringing scientifically rigorous and data-driven approaches to solving some of the most pressing clinical problems in women's health, beginning with pregnancy. Serious complications impact one in five pregnancies in the U.S., and Mirvie is committed to creating a world where every pregnancy is as safe and healthy as possible. Founded and led by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and scientists, the company is based in South San Francisco, California and backed by top-tier investors including Blackrock, Decheng Capital, Foresite Capital, General Catalyst, GV, Khosla Ventures, and Mayfield. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Press contact:Kate Enoskate@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Health
- Business Wire
New Study in JAMA Network Open Shows Current Approaches to Assessing Preeclampsia Risk Are Failing the Majority of Pregnant Moms
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new study sponsored by Mirvie, which is the first to evaluate U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines for preeclampsia risk and aspirin prescription in a single, nationally representative, prospective population, found while high-risk factors had sufficient value in estimating risk, there's limited value for the moderate risk category - leading to nonspecific recommendations for aspirin use, a recognized prevention tool. This cohort study of 5684 participants, culled from the multi-center Miracle of Life prospective study, found the guidelines identified nearly 89% of pregnancies at increased risk of preeclampsia. 70.3% were in the moderate risk category, defined by maternal characteristics and broad demographics including age, body mass index, and race, while 18.5% were in the high risk category, which includes patients with conditions like chronic hypertension or prior history of preeclampsia. The study findings suggest that the murkiness of moderate risk factors may influence clinicians' decisions regarding daily aspirin recommendations. While 82% of women with a high risk factor were recommended daily aspirin, only 37% of those with one or more moderate risk factors were given this recommendation. USPSTF, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) all endorse guidance to consider or recommend starting aspirin between 12 to 28 weeks' gestation for pregnancies with moderate risk factors. 'Identifying 9 out of 10 women as at risk is not helping and overburdens care teams and pregnant patients, too,' said Dr. Thomas McElrath, vice president of clinical development at Mirvie and a practicing maternal-fetal medicine physician at Mass General Brigham, as well as lead author of the study. 'Physicians may be reluctant to prescribe aspirin when the majority of their patients fall into the moderate risk category. This is compounded by less than 25% compliance with aspirin use by patients in the moderate risk category.' Most pregnant women in the study (70.3%) fell into the moderate risk category using the USPSTF guidelines, but having one or more moderate risk factors and no high-risk factors were not predictive of preeclampsia risk. Among individuals with 2 or more moderate risk factors but without any high risk factor, nulliparity was associated with modestly increased risk of preeclampsia (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.35-1.62; P < .001); there was little or no association with obesity (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22; P = .048), Black race (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.80-1.14; P = .63), and advanced maternal age (RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.96; P = .02). 'Rates of preeclampsia in the US have doubled in the past 15 years and continue to rise with no end in sight,' said Kara Boeldt, a preeclampsia survivor and Founder and Executive Director of 'The introduction of the USPSTF guidelines in 2021 didn't do anything to reverse course on the rise of preeclampsia. This important and eye-opening study highlights that we need new approaches that can predict who's truly at risk for preeclampsia, which can be so dangerous for moms and their babies. This is why I am incredibly encouraged and excited by the innovation being led by companies like Mirvie, which can finally offer some pregnant women and their care teams a clear, personalized prediction of their preeclampsia risk with a simple blood test during pregnancy." 'The findings of this important study confirm the need for clear, objective measures of preeclampsia risk prediction, to motivate preventive care,' said Maneesh Jain, CEO and co-founder of Mirvie. 'With innovation like Encompass ™, we can now deliver preventive care to the right patients at the right time and impact rates of preterm birth.' About the Miracle of Life study The Mirvie-sponsored Miracle of Life study examined nearly 11,000 pregnancies across the U.S., including 22,000 cell-free RNA transcripts per patient which resulted in 200 million data points overall, making it the largest study of molecular health in pregnancy of its kind. The landmark research study on pregnancy health, in collaboration with leading experts in obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine, uncovers how RNA messages present in expectant mothers' blood can predict life-threatening pregnancy complications. One area of study relates to cell-free RNA's prediction of preeclampsia months in advance, a leading cause of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. About Mirvie Mirvie is bringing scientifically rigorous and data-driven approaches to solving some of the most pressing clinical problems in women's health, beginning with pregnancy. Serious complications impact one in five pregnancies in the U.S., and Mirvie is committed to creating a world where every pregnancy is as safe and healthy as possible. Founded and led by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and scientists, the company is based in South San Francisco, California and backed by top-tier investors including Blackrock, Decheng Capital, Foresite Capital, General Catalyst, GV, Khosla Ventures, and Mayfield. For more information, visit
The Hill
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
HHS abruptly cancels preventive services task force meeting
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has abruptly postponed a meeting of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force originally scheduled for Thursday, according to an email sent to members of the public who had planned on attending. 'The Immediate Office of the Secretary is postponing the July USPSTF meeting. Moving forward, HHS looks forward to engaging with the Task Force to promote the health and well-being of the American people,' the email stated. An HHS spokesman confirmed the cancellation but did not provide a reasoning. The cancellation comes on the heels of a Supreme Court decision last month that asserted Kennedy has power to hire and fire members of the task force at will, and to review and potentially delay or veto the recommendations they issue — something that no prior administration has ever done. The task force is composed of medical experts who serve four-year terms on a volunteer basis. They are appointed by the HHS secretary and are supposed to be shielded from political influence. Congress designed the task force to be 'independent and, to the extent practicable, not subject to political pressure.' Task force members meet three times a year, in March, July and November. ObamaCare requires insurers cover services the task force recommends with a 'grade' of A or B, such as cancer screenings and HIV-prevention drugs. The sudden cancellation of the meeting raised alarms among public health experts, who fear Kennedy could meddle with the task force's composition or fire its members, like he did with a vaccine advisory panel last month. AcademyHealth, a nonpartisan group representing health researchers, sent a letter to congressional health leaders Wednesday urging them to protect the integrity of the USPSTF 'from intentional or unintentional political interference.' 'The loss of trustworthiness in the rigorous and nonpartisan work of the Task Force would devastate patients, hospital systems, and payers as misinformation creates barriers to accessing lifesaving and cost effective care,' the group wrote.
CNN
09-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
HHS abruptly calls off meeting of expert panel on preventive care, raising questions about its future
Federal agencies WellnessFacebookTweetLink Follow The US Department of Health and Human Services called off an upcoming meeting of expert advisers on preventive health care, raising questions about the future of the longtime, nonpolitical advisory group. An HHS spokesperson confirmed to CNN that the US Preventive Services Task Force — which has set recommendations for cancer screenings, STI testing and other preventive care — will not meet on Thursday as previously scheduled. A notice was sent Monday afternoon saying that the office of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is postponing the July meeting, according to a person familiar with the details who declined to be named because they weren't authorized to discuss the meeting publicly. 'Moving forward, HHS looks forward to engaging with the task force to promote the health and well-being of the American people,' the notice continued. But the cancellation also arrives as Kennedy pushes to reshape the health agencies and expunge them of what he has called longtime health-care industry influence on policies. Kennedy last month dismissed a 17-member US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory committee and two days later named eight new picks to guide the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Several of the new members have questioned vaccine safety; two have testified in court against vaccine manufacturers. 'There is extraordinary concern,' among those connected to the task force, 'that it's about to be dismissed, like ACIP was,' the person familiar with the meeting said. Kennedy's control over the task force was recently solidified by the US Supreme Court. Last month, in a case challenging a popular provision of the Affordable Care Act, the justices upheld the constitutionality of the task force that recommends preventive health care services that insurers must cover at no-cost. Both the Biden and Trump administrations argued that the task force was properly set up — and therefore, its recommendations should be upheld — because the Health and Human Services secretary was able to name and fire its members. The 16-member task force was set up in 1984 and provides recommendations about preventive services, such as screenings for cancer and various disorders and counseling, that help make Americans aware of illnesses and conditions earlier, when they can be easier and less expensive to treat. The Affordable Care Act mandates that those services are provided without charge to patients. While consumer advocates cheered the Supreme Court ruling, they cautioned that it gives Kennedy more power over preventive care recommendations. 'The big takeaway here is that the Task Force's recommendations are binding, just as the ACA's drafters intended,' Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan, posted on X last month. 'BUT the scheme is constitutional only because Sec Kennedy can exercise near-complete control over Task Force recommendations. A mixed bag!' Thursday's meeting agenda was to include a discussion of recommendations around 'healthy diet, physical activity, and/or weight loss to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults,' focused on 'behavioral counseling interventions,' the person familiar with the meeting said. The panel typically meets in person three times a year, and Thursday's meeting was to be in person. In addition, they typically meet virtually every week. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
CNN
09-07-2025
- Health
- CNN
HHS abruptly calls off meeting of expert panel on preventive care, raising questions about its future
The US Department of Health and Human Services called off an upcoming meeting of expert advisers on preventive health care, raising questions about the future of the longtime, nonpolitical advisory group. An HHS spokesperson confirmed to CNN that the US Preventive Services Task Force — which has set recommendations for cancer screenings, STI testing and other preventive care — will not meet on Thursday as previously scheduled. A notice was sent Monday afternoon saying that the office of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is postponing the July meeting, according to a person familiar with the details who declined to be named because they weren't authorized to discuss the meeting publicly. 'Moving forward, HHS looks forward to engaging with the task force to promote the health and well-being of the American people,' the notice continued. But the cancellation also arrives as Kennedy pushes to reshape the health agencies and expunge them of what he has called longtime health-care industry influence on policies. Kennedy last month dismissed a 17-member US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory committee and two days later named eight new picks to guide the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Several of the new members have questioned vaccine safety; two have testified in court against vaccine manufacturers. 'There is extraordinary concern,' among those connected to the task force, 'that it's about to be dismissed, like ACIP was,' the person familiar with the meeting said. Kennedy's control over the task force was recently solidified by the US Supreme Court. Last month, in a case challenging a popular provision of the Affordable Care Act, the justices upheld the constitutionality of the task force that recommends preventive health care services that insurers must cover at no-cost. Both the Biden and Trump administrations argued that the task force was properly set up — and therefore, its recommendations should be upheld — because the Health and Human Services secretary was able to name and fire its members. The 16-member task force was set up in 1984 and provides recommendations about preventive services, such as screenings for cancer and various disorders and counseling, that help make Americans aware of illnesses and conditions earlier, when they can be easier and less expensive to treat. The Affordable Care Act mandates that those services are provided without charge to patients. While consumer advocates cheered the Supreme Court ruling, they cautioned that it gives Kennedy more power over preventive care recommendations. 'The big takeaway here is that the Task Force's recommendations are binding, just as the ACA's drafters intended,' Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan, posted on X last month. 'BUT the scheme is constitutional only because Sec Kennedy can exercise near-complete control over Task Force recommendations. A mixed bag!' Thursday's meeting agenda was to include a discussion of recommendations around 'healthy diet, physical activity, and/or weight loss to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults,' focused on 'behavioral counseling interventions,' the person familiar with the meeting said. The panel typically meets in person three times a year, and Thursday's meeting was to be in person. In addition, they typically meet virtually every week. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
