• Danielle Schoenaker, Elizabeth M Lovegrove, Emma H Cassinelli, Jennifer Hall, Majel McGranahan, Laura McGowan, Helen Carr, Nisreen A Alwan, Judith Stephenson, and Keith M Godfrey.
• School of Human Development and Health, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre, University of Southampton; National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton; University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton.
• Br J Gen Pract. 2025 Feb 1; 75 (751): e129e136e129-e136.

BackgroundRoutine primary care data may be a valuable resource for preconception health research and to inform the 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 March 2023 using five databases 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.ResultsFrom 5259 screened records, 42 articles were included. The prevalence of 37 preconception indicator measures 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 a low risk of bias, but missing data may limit generalisability of the findings.ConclusionThe findings demonstrated that routinely collected UK primary care data could be used to identify patients' preconception care needs. Linking primary care data with health outcomes collected in other datasets is underutilised, but could help to quantify how optimising preconception health and care could reduce adverse outcomes for mothers and children.© The Authors.

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