• Danielle Schoenaker, Elizabeth Lovegrove, Emma Cassinelli, Jennifer Hall, Majel McGranahan, Laura McGowan, Helen Carr, Nisreen Alwan, Judith Stephenson, and Keith Godfrey.
• University of Southampton School of Primary Care Population Sciences and Medical Education, Primary Care Research Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom d.schoenaker@soton.ac.uk.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2024 Jul 1.

BackgroundRoutine primary care data may be a valuable resource for preconception health research and informing provision of preconception care.AimTo review how primary care data could provide information on the prevalence of preconception indicators and examine associations with maternal and offspring health outcomes.Design And SettingSystematic review of observational studies using UK routine primary care data.MethodLiterature searches were conducted in five databases (March 2023) to identify observational studies that used national primary care data from individuals aged 15-49 years. Preconception indicators were defined as medical, behavioural and social factors that may impact future pregnancies. Health outcomes included those that may occur during and after pregnancy. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two reviewers.ResultsFrom 5,259 records screened, 42 articles were included. The prevalence of 30 preconception indicators was described for female patients, ranging from 0.01% for sickle cell disease to >20% for each of advanced maternal age, previous caesarean section (among those with a recorded pregnancy), overweight, obesity, smoking, depression and anxiety (irrespective of pregnancy). Few studies reported indicators for male patients (n=3) or associations with outcomes (n=5). Most studies had low risk of bias, but missing data may limit generalisability.ConclusionFindings demonstrate that routinely collected UK primary care data can be used to identify patients preconception care needs. Linking primary care data with health outcomes collected in other datasets is underutilised but could help quantify how optimising preconception health and care can reduce adverse outcomes for mothers and children.Copyright © 2024, The Authors.

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