The condition may be silent, but the response need not be.
Preeclampsia causes ~70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000+ fetal/neonatal deaths annually worldwide, with rates of 3-5% in Chile. The condition often presents silently without symptoms, making regular prenatal care and first-trimester Doppler screening critical for early identification.
- Preeclampsia causes approximately 70,000 maternal deaths and 500,000+ fetal/neonatal deaths annually worldwide
- The condition affects 5-10% of pregnancies globally and 3-5% in Chile
- First-trimester Doppler ultrasound screening (11-14 weeks) identifies high-risk pregnancies for early intervention
- Low-dose aspirin in high-risk pregnancies has proven effective at reducing severe preeclampsia and complications
Preeclampsia affects 5-10% of pregnancies globally and remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. Early detection through prenatal screening and low-dose aspirin in high-risk cases can significantly reduce severe complications.
Every May 22nd, the world pauses to acknowledge a condition that kills without warning. Preeclampsia—a pregnancy disorder that hijacks the body's blood pressure and organ function—remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal death globally, yet many women carrying it feel nothing at all.
The numbers are staggering. The World Health Organization estimates that hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect between 5 and 10 percent of all pregnancies worldwide. Each year, these conditions claim roughly 70,000 maternal lives and more than 500,000 fetal and newborn lives. In Latin America, where gaps in prenatal access persist, preeclampsia continues to rank among the top direct causes of maternal death. Chile is no exception. National health statistics show the condition affects between 3 and 5 percent of pregnancies there, with rising risk factors—obesity, diabetes, advanced maternal age—pushing the problem into sharper focus.
What makes preeclampsia particularly dangerous is its deception. The syndrome typically emerges after 20 weeks of pregnancy and can damage multiple organs simultaneously: the liver, kidneys, brain, placenta. Yet some women experience no symptoms whatsoever. Others develop sudden, severe headaches, vision changes, rapid swelling, upper abdominal pain, or dangerously elevated blood pressure. Without regular prenatal monitoring, these warning signs can be missed entirely, and by the time a woman reaches a hospital, the condition may have already spiraled into life-threatening territory for her and her baby.
This is where early detection becomes a matter of survival. Prenatal care—routine, consistent, accessible—serves as the first line of defense. During these visits, healthcare providers screen for risk factors and catch the subtle signs that something is wrong. The science has advanced considerably. Low-dose aspirin, given to pregnant women identified as high-risk, has proven effective at reducing the severity of preeclampsia and its complications. International organizations including FIGO and the WHO now emphasize first-trimester screening as standard practice.
One of the most significant developments in maternal medicine has been the adoption of Doppler ultrasound imaging of the uterine arteries during the first-trimester scan, typically between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. This examination can identify which pregnancies carry elevated risk for preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, allowing doctors to intervene early and monitor more closely. It is a tool that transforms uncertainty into actionable knowledge.
For midwives and obstetricians, the responsibility is clear. They occupy a crucial position in education, prevention, and early identification. Encouraging regular prenatal visits and strengthening health literacy in communities can mean the difference between a woman walking out of the hospital with her baby alive or a family grieving an entirely preventable loss. The condition may be silent, but the response to it need not be.
Citas Notables
Preeclampsia is a hypertensive syndrome of pregnancy that typically appears after 20 weeks and can affect multiple organs, compromising the life of the mother, fetus, or newborn if not detected and managed promptly.— Valeska Morales Quintana, Obstetrics Academic, Universidad Andrés Bello
As midwives and obstetricians, we play a key role in education, prevention, and timely detection. Promoting regular prenatal care and strengthening health education can make the difference between life and death.— Valeska Morales Quintana, Obstetrics Academic, Universidad Andrés Bello
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does preeclampsia kill so many people if we have the tools to detect it?
Because detection requires access—to regular prenatal care, to trained providers, to ultrasound machines, to follow-up. In places where those things are scarce, women don't know they're at risk until it's too late.
You mentioned it's often silent. How does a woman know something is wrong if she feels fine?
That's the trap. She doesn't. She might feel fine right up until her organs start failing. That's why the screening matters—the Doppler ultrasound, the blood pressure checks, the lab work. The condition announces itself to the machines before it announces itself to the body.
And aspirin actually works?
In low doses, yes, for women identified as high-risk. It's not a cure, but it reduces the chance of severe preeclampsia developing. It's one of those interventions where a small, cheap intervention prevents catastrophe.
What's the role of the midwife in all this?
Everything. They're the ones seeing women regularly, building trust, catching the warning signs, pushing for testing when something feels off. They're the bridge between the woman and the system.
Is this a problem that's getting worse or better?
Better in places with strong prenatal systems. Worse in places where access is fragmented. In Latin America especially, the gap between who gets screened and who doesn't is still enormous.