Doctors may be able to significantly reduce cases of a dangerous pregnancy complication by taking a simple step at the very first prenatal visit, according to new research presented this week.

Findings shared at a meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Las Vegas suggest that prescribing daily low-dose aspirin to all pregnant women early in pregnancy can lower rates of severe preeclampsia.

The study, led by Dr. Elaine Duryea, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, found that directly dispensing aspirin to expectant mothers was associated with a notable drop in severe cases of the condition.

“Implementation of directly-dispensed aspirin in this high-risk pregnant population appeared to delay the onset, and for some patients completely prevent the development of preeclampsia with severe features,” Duryea said in a news release.

Preeclampsia is marked by persistently high blood pressure during pregnancy and can lead to organ damage in the mother. It also raises the risk of premature birth, stillbirth and other serious complications.

Previous research has shown that starting low-dose aspirin between 12 and 28 weeks of pregnancy can help prevent preeclampsia. However, the treatment has not been widely adopted in routine prenatal care.

In the new study, researchers began prescribing daily aspirin to all pregnant patients at their first prenatal visit — or before 16 weeks’ gestation — starting in August 2022. To improve access and adherence, clinics handed the aspirin directly to patients rather than simply recommending it.

The team analyzed outcomes for nearly 18,500 women who delivered at Parkland Hospital in Dallas after the aspirin initiative began. Their outcomes were compared with a similar number of women who had not been prescribed aspirin.

The results showed a 29% reduction in cases of severe preeclampsia among women who received daily aspirin. Among those who still developed the condition, onset occurred later in pregnancy, potentially reducing the risk of complications associated with early disease.

Women who had high blood pressure before becoming pregnant also appeared to benefit. In this group, aspirin use was associated with a 28% lower risk of developing preeclampsia.

Importantly, the study found no increased risk of side effects, including bleeding complications or placental damage — concerns sometimes associated with aspirin use during pregnancy.

“While we cannot be sure that similar effects will be observed in other patient populations, there was no evidence of harm caused by aspirin administration,” Duryea noted.

The findings were presented Wednesday at the conference and are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Still, researchers say the results point to a potentially simple, low-cost intervention that could reduce a major cause of maternal and newborn complications worldwide.