A new study from researchers at the George Washington University suggests that pregnant patients who are more actively engaged with remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology during prenatal care may have had a higher likelihood of preeclampsia detection.
The retrospective study evaluated the Babyscripts™ digital health platform, which enables patients to remotely track gestational weight gain and blood pressure while receiving scheduled education about pregnancy symptoms and screening tests. Researchers sought to understand whether higher engagement with RPM could influence detection of preeclampsia - a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and other maternal health outcomes.
Key findings include:
- The study analyzed 823 pregnant patients receiving care at a university-based obstetric practice.
- Nearly one-third of patients identified as Black and 32% were Medicaid/Medicare recipients, underscoring the platform’s reach in diverse populations.
- Living in distressed communities and having at least one prior full-term pregnancy were associated with reduced engagement in the platform.
- Conversely, older maternal age and first-time pregnancies were linked to higher engagement.
- A nonsignificant trend suggested that higher RPM engagement was associated with increased detection of preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality worldwide, making timely detection critical. The integration of mobile health tools such as Babyscripts™ into routine prenatal care could support earlier screening and improved patient compliance—especially in communities that face barriers to consistent access to care.
The study, “Tracking Engagement with Remote Patient Monitoring in Prenatal Care and Detection of Preeclampsia: A Retrospective Review” published in PubMed underscores the need for further research into how engagement with mobile health platforms may influence both maternal risk factors and clinical outcomes in pregnancy.
-GW-