QI In Action: Leveraging Measurement Tools to Reduce Adverse Outcomes for Pregnant Women
We spotlight an effective data driven project undertaken by KIMSHEALTH in India, focusing on the early detection and management of pre-eclampsia.
The ACHS International Healthcare Measurement QI Award recognises organisations that effectively measure clinical outcomes, act on the data, and enhance patient care and performance. Measurement is key to quality improvement, helping providers evaluate effectiveness, identify areas of improvement and implement better practices.
The QI Award Winner 2024 for Healthcare Measurement, KIMSHEALTH demonstrated this with their submission titled, ‘Prediction of Pre-eclampsia at 18-24 weeks of gestation using maternal Ophthalmic artery Doppler – A prospective observational study.’ As a leading quaternary care hospital network in India and the Middle East, KIMSHEALTH is a pioneer in advancing accessible and affordable healthcare.
Project Background
By leveraging data and measurement, KIMSHEALTH was able to enhance the quality of care in the early detection and management of pre-eclampsia. This is a significant milestone, as pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder that contributes to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Accurate early prediction of pre-eclampsia allows for timely intervention, reducing adverse outcomes. Current methods to predict pre-eclampsia mainly focus on blood pressure, blood flow in the uterus, and other factors. KIMSHEALTH’s study tested if eye artery scans, also known as ophthalmic artery Doppler - a non-invasive and cost-effective tool, could be an effective alternative.
Early Prediction of Pre-Eclampsia: Eye Artery Blood Flow as a Key Indicator
Data collection and measurement helped accurately identify key predictors of pre-eclampsia and validate the effectiveness of the eye artery test in early detection. The study followed 408 pregnant women between 18–24 weeks. During routine scans, eye artery blood flow was measured alongside blood pressure and blood flow in the uterus. The study analysed how well each test predicted pre-eclampsia. The women were followed up until 2 weeks after delivery to find out those who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia by collecting data from their electronic medical records.
From the records, 15 of the 408 women developed pre-eclampsia. Most of these women had abnormal eye artery measurements. The ophthalmic artery Doppler was found to be the most accurate predictor, with a 93% success rate for identifying those at risk. Its effectiveness outperformed other tests like blood pressure and uterine artery blood flow.
Results
This study introduces a new way to predict pre-eclampsia, using a non-invasive, affordable eye scan that could become a part of routine pregnancy check-ups. Further testing is required for different demographics, but early results are promising, showing that this method could be a highly effective tool for screening pre-eclampsia. Early results indicate that by adding this simple test to standard screenings, doctors could identify high-risk pregnancies earlier and prevent potential complications.
Read the full submission as well as other outstanding projects from our QI Awards 2024 Winners and Highly Commended in our Quality Initiatives Publication 2024 here.
