Obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of preterm delivery

Association between Sleep Disordered Breathing and Neonatal Outcomes in Nulliparous Individuals

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine whether objectively measured sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes in a cohort of nulliparous individuals.

STUDY DESIGN

Secondary analysis of the nuMom2b sleep disordered breathing substudy was performed. Individuals underwent in-home sleep studies for SDB assessment in early (6-15 weeks' gestation) and mid-pregnancy (22-31 weeks' gestation). SDB was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index ≥5 events/h at either time point. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of respiratory distress syndrome, transient tachypnea of the newborn, or receipt of respiratory support, treated hyperbilirubinemia or hypoglycemia, large-for-gestational age, seizures treated with medications or confirmed by electroencephalography, confirmed sepsis, or neonatal death. Individuals were categorized into (1) early pregnancy SDB (6-15 weeks' gestation), (2) new onset mid-pregnancy SDB (22-31 weeks' gestation), and (3) no SDB. Log-binomial regression was used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) representing the association.

RESULTS

Among 2,106 participants, 3% (n = 75) had early pregnancy SDB and 5.7% (n = 119) developed new-onset mid-pregnancy SDB. The incidence of the primary outcome was higher in the offspring of individuals with early (29.3%) and new onset mid-pregnancy SDB (30.3%) compared with individuals with no SDB (17.8%). After adjustment for maternal age, chronic hypertension, pregestational diabetes, and body mass index, new onset mid-pregnancy SDB conferred increased risk (RR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.94), where there was no longer statistically significant association between early pregnancy SDB and the primary outcome.

CONCLUSION

New onset, mid-pregnancy SDB is independently associated with neonatal morbidity.

KEY POINTS

· SDB is a common condition impacting pregnancy with known maternal risks.. · Objectively defined SDB in pregnancy was associated with a composite of adverse neonatal outcomes.. · New onset SDB in mid pregnancy conferred statistically significant increased risk..

The epidemiology of apnoea of prematurity

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Many premature infants less than 37 weeks gestational age (GA), and almost all infants less than 28 weeks GA, will experience apnoea of prematurity (AOP)-a cessation of respiration for 20 or more seconds (or less than 20 s if accompanied by other signs). Because the treatment options for AOP are so limited, we explore its epidemiology, with the ultimate hope of learning how to decrease its incidence.

COMMENT

Although AOP usually resolves with maturation of the respiratory system, many short- and long-term negative effects are correlated statistically with AOP (although direct causality has not been established). The primary risk factor for AOP is preterm birth, but delivery technique, genetics, socioeconomic status, racial disparities and other influences are suspected to be involved. Anaemia, asthma and gastric reflux have also been associated with preterm birth, but the relationship with AOP is unclear. The postulated associations and the strength of the evidence are briefly reviewed and discussed.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Attempts to elucidate the epidemiology of apnoea of prematurity have been challenging. Studies of AOP are hampered in part by challenges in monitoring the condition, the interplay of multiple comorbidities in preterm neonates and lack of expert consensus definitions. However, since the primary risk factor is preterm birth, efforts to decrease the prevalence of preterm birth would have a positive secondary effect on the prevalence of AOP. Until then, better pharmacotherapeutic options are needed.

The association between obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of poor delivery events in women: A population-based nested case-control study

Purpose

To investigate the risk of poor delivery events (PDEs; premature delivery, abortion, and stillbirth) in female subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods

The study identified 8346 female subjects with PDEs as cases between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2015 from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 in Taiwan. A total of 33,384 controls were also identified based on frequency matching for age and year of index date. Diagnoses of OSA and PDEs were determined according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. The risk of PDEs in female subjects with OSA was estimated with conditional logistic regression analyses.

Findings

The mean age of the 41,730 female subjects was 35.53 years. The overall incidence rate of PDEs was 506.22 per 100,000 person‐years for subjects with OSA, which was significantly higher than that for the controls (501.95 per 100,000 person‐years). The risk of PDEs was higher in subjects with OSA than in controls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] [95% CI]: 1.08–1.43), including for premature delivery (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.16–1.50), and abortion (AOR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.09–1.47). OSA showed no relation to stillbirth (AOR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.99–1.31). The findings indicate that the longer a subject has been experiencing OSA, the higher the probability of PDEs.

Conclusions

The risk of PDEs associated with OSA was found in this study. In particular, the longer a subject has OSA, the higher the likelihood of PDEs, exhibiting a dose–response effect.

Clinical relevance

To effectively promote maternal health in clinical practice, health providers need to recognize OSA as a risk factor associated with negative pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, OSA symptoms should be assessed and managed in all pregnant women to enable more comprehensive maternal care.

High body mass index and sleep problems during pregnancy: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies

Despite the well-established correlation of weight and sleeping problems, little is known about the nature of the association. The present study examined whether pregnant women with high body mass index have a risk of developing sleep problems, and identified any covariates that affect this relationship. We systematically searched electronic databases, specialized journals, various clinical trial registries, grey literature databases and the reference list of the identified studies. All observational studies were obtained from inception until 9 August 2020. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was adopted to assess the quality of studies. Stata software was used to conduct meta-analysis and meta-regression. Forty-six observational studies involving 2,240,804 participants across 16 countries were included. Quality assessment scores ranged from 4 to 10 (median = 6). Meta-analyses revealed that the risk of sleep apnea, habitual snoring, short sleep duration and poor sleep quality is increased in pregnant women with high body mass index, but not for daytime sleepiness, insomnia or restless legs syndrome. Subgroup differences were detected on body mass index between different regions, nature of population, year of publication, age group and study quality. Random-effects meta-regression analyses showed that year and quality of publication were covariates on the relationships between pre-pregnant body mass index and sleep apnea risk. Our review shows that sleep apnea, habitual snoring, short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are important concerns for pregnant women with high body mass index. Developing screening and targeted interventions is recommended to promote efficacious perinatal care.

The Berlin Questionnaire in pregnancy predominantly identifies obesity

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in pregnant women and is a risk factor for poor perinatal outcomes. The Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) is a validated OSA screening tool that is often used in pregnancy. However, its poor performance in this population is likely attributed to the scoring paradigm that primarily identifies obesity. Moreover, the associations between the BQ and pregnancy outcomes are often those same outcomes that are obesity-related. Therefore, this study examined associations between each of the three BQ domains, independently and jointly, in relation to gestational diabetes (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

METHODS

Pregnant third-trimester women were recruited from a tertiary medical center and completed the BQ, which includes three independent domains: snoring; sleepiness; and obesity/high blood pressure. Medical records were accessed for diagnoses of GDM and HDP.

RESULTS

Of the 1,588 pregnant women, 44% had a positive BQ score. Women with a positive score for domains of snoring exclusively, sleepiness exclusively, or their combination did not have an increased risk for GDM or HDP. However, women without snoring or sleepiness, but with a positive score on the BMI/BP domain had increased odds of GDM (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.3-3.3) and HDP (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.6-5.5). Further, any positive score in domain combinations that included BMI/BP had increased odds of GDM and HDP compared with negative scores in all domains. In addition, presence of obesity without hypertension, snoring, or sleepiness, the odds of GDM and HDP were similarly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor performance of the BQ in screening for OSA risk, may be attributed to its predominant reliance on identification of obesity.

Sleep disturbances during pregnancy and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in pregnancy and are frequently overlooked as a potential cause of significant morbidity. The association between sleep disturbances and pregnancy outcomes remains largely controversial and needs to be clarified to guide management. To evaluate the association between sleep disturbances and maternal complications and adverse fetal outcomes, we performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for English-language articles published from inception to March 6, 2020, including observational studies of pregnant women with and without sleep disturbances assessing the risk of obstetric complications in the antenatal, intrapartum or postnatal period, and neonatal complications. Data extraction was completed independently by two reviewers. We utilized the Newcastle-Ottawa Scales to assess the methodological quality of included studies and random-effect models to pool the associations. A total of 120 studies with 58,123,250 pregnant women were included. Sleep disturbances were assessed, including poor sleep quality, extreme sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, restless legs syndrome, subjective sleep-disordered breathing and diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. Significant associations were found between sleep disturbances in pregnancy and a variety of maternal complications and adverse fetal outcomes. Overall sleep disturbances were significantly associated with pre-eclampsia (odds ratio = 2.80, 95% confidence interval: 2.38-3.30), gestational hypertension (1.74, 1.54-1.97), gestational diabetes mellitus (1.59, 1.45-1.76), cesarean section (1.47, 1.31-1.64), preterm birth (1.38, 1.26-1.51), large for gestational age (1.40, 1.11-1.77), and stillbirth (1.25, 1.08-1.45), but not small for gestational age (1.03, 0.92-1.16), or low birth weight (1.27, 0.98-1.64). Sleep disturbances were related to higher morbidities in pregnant women who are 30 y or older and overweight before pregnancy. The findings indicate that sleep disturbances, which are easily ignored and treatable for both pregnant women and clinical services, deserve more attention from health care providers during prenatal counseling and health care services.

Maternal sleep quality during early pregnancy, risk factors and its impact on pregnancy outcomes: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality during early pregnancy and its risk factors, and to explore the association between sleep quality and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

This was a prospective birth cohort study that included 4352 pregnant women. Sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The risk factors for poor sleep quality were analyzed by a logistic regression model. Log-binomial regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep quality and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

The prevalence of maternal poor sleep quality during early pregnancy was 34.14%. The multivariate logistic model showed that stillbirth history (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.47), history of induced abortion (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.49), general health-related quality of life (OR = 3.98; 95% CI: 2.97, 5.34), insufficient physical activity (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.36), smoking (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.15), and vegetarian (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.54, 3.08) were risk factors for poor sleep quality, while taking folic acid consistently before pregnancy (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72,0.97) was the protective factor. After controlling for all the confounders, poor sleep quality during early pregnancy increased the risk of premature rupture of membranes by 12% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.25).

CONCLUSION

Pregnant women with a history of stillbirth and induced abortion, general health-related quality of life, insufficient physical activity, smoking, and a vegetarian diet tended to have poor sleep quality. More attention should be paid to healthy lifestyle of pregnant women to improve sleep quality and better pregnancy outcomes.

Symptoms of Daytime Sleepiness and Sleep Apnea among Pregnant Women

Objectives

Despite the fact that sleep disturbances have been associated with poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes in pregnancy, no studies have assessed excessive daytime sleepiness or the risk for sleep apnea among pregnant Saudi Arabian women. We sought to estimate the prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and the high risk for sleep apnea (OSA) in a sample of pregnant Saudi women.

Methods

An anonymous self-report questionnaire was completed by 517 pregnant women who attended obstetric outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a routine pregnancy check. We collected demographic and clinical data for all patients and used the Berlin Questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to determine the primary outcomes.

Results

A high risk of OSA was found in 37.1% of women (95% confidence interval (CI): 33.00%-41.50%), and EDS was found in 32.1% (95% CI: 28.10%-36.30%). The presence of both (EDS and a high risk of OSA) was found in 14.9% of women (95% CI: 11.90%-18.30%). We found increased odds of EDS in women who reported pain three times or more per week (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.59) and insomnia (aOR = 1.65). Older women (≥ 37 years) (aOR = 3.00), those who reported pain once a week (aOR = 1.99), pain twice a week (aOR = 2.75), three times or more a week (aOR = 2.57), and insomnia (aOR = 1.95) increased the odds of high risk for OSA.

Conclusions

EDS and a high risk for OSA affected a large portion of the pregnant women included in the study, primarily those who reported pain and insomnia. Our study provides important information for gynecologists to help promote healthy sleep and manage the issues arising from sleep disturbances among pregnant women as part of their daily practice.

Quality of sleep and quality of life measured monthly in pregnant women in South Korea

PURPOSE

The change in sleep patterns across the duration of pregnancy is an item of interest. The aim of this study is to provide data on pregnant women's quality of sleep (QoS) and quality of life (QoL) to determine appropriate times to screen for potential problems.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal observational study. Primigravidae, with no previous illness, completed questionnaires once a month. Strict exclusion criteria were applied in order to evaluate QoS and QoL in "normal" pregnant women.

RESULTS

A total of 83 normal primigravidae completed this study. The mean age was 33.1 ± 4.0. During pregnancy, body mass index gradually increased, and QoS worsened to a significant degree between the fifth and ninth months (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index 6.8 ± 2.8 vs. 8.9 ± 3.6, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in QoL between the fifth and seventh months (Short Form-36 70.8 ± 18.3 vs. 67.3 ± 15.1, p = 0.009). There was no evidence of significant depression or suspicion of sleep-disordered breathing.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women in South Korea have gradual worsening of QoS which becomes clinically significant by full term. QoL changes significantly between the fifth and seventh months. The results of this observational study suggest that it would be fruitful to evaluate QoS and QoL in pregnant women between the second and third trimesters.

The STOP-Bang Questionnaire as a Screening Tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We examined the validity of the STOP-Bang questionnaire and a modified STOP-Bang questionnaire to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in women with obesity during the second trimester of pregnancy.

METHODS

Ninety-nine pregnant women age 18 years or older with body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m² completed the STOP-Bang questionnaire during their second trimester. The number of oxygen desaturation events (≥ 4% from baseline) was measured using overnight pulse oximetry, with OSA defined as ≥ 5 events/h. A Modified STOP-Bang score was derived by replacing the "Tired" item with Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥ 10. Seven candidate models were compared using information theoretic criteria: STOP-Bang, Modified STOP-Bang, and individual STOP-Bang items (Snore, Tired, Observed to stop breathing, high blood Pressure and Neck circumference). We used penalized logistic regression and negative binomial regression to derive predicted probabilities of having OSA and the predicted total event counts.

RESULTS

The predicted probability of meeting oximetry criteria for OSA increased with higher STOP-Bang scores, from < 10% for a score < 3 to 68% with a score of 6. The total number of disordered breathing events was 1.26 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.50) times greater for a 1-unit increase in STOP-Bang. Of the candidate models, the best relative fit was the Snore item followed by STOP-Bang score (essentially equivalent). The predicted probability of having OSA was 5.0% for no snoring and 26.4% for snoring.

CONCLUSIONS

STOP-Bang has been shown to be a useful screening tool for OSA in pregnant women with obesity; however, the snoring question alone might be a simpler, effective predictor.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Title: STOPBANG As A Screening Tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Pregnancy; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02542488; Identifier: NCT02542488.

Associations of snoring frequency and intensity in pregnancy with time-to-delivery

BACKGROUND

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, little is known about the association of SDB with timing of delivery. We examined the association of snoring frequency, a key SDB marker, and snoring intensity, a correlate of SDB severity, with time-to-delivery among a cohort of pregnant women.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, 1483 third trimester pregnant women were recruited from the University of Michigan prenatal clinics. Women completed a questionnaire about their sleep, and demographic and pregnancy information was abstracted from medical charts. After exclusion of those with hypertension or diabetes, 954 women were classified into two groups by their snoring onset timing, chronic or pregnancy-onset. Within each of these groups, women were divided into four groups based on their snoring frequency and intensity: non-snorers; infrequent-quiet; frequent-quiet; or frequent-loud snorers. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to investigate the association between snoring frequency and intensity and time-to-delivery, adjusting for maternal characteristics.

RESULTS

Chronic snoring was reported by half of the pregnant women, and of those, 7% were frequent-loud snorers. Deliveries before 38 weeks' gestation are completed occurred among 25% of women with chronic, frequent-loud snoring. Compared with pre-pregnancy non-snorers, women with chronic frequent-loud snoring had an increased hazard ratio for delivery (adjusted hazard ratio 1.60, 95% confidence interval 1.04, 2.45).

CONCLUSIONS

Snoring frequency and intensity is associated with time-to-delivery in women absent of hypertension or diabetes. Frequent-loud snoring may have a clinical utility to identify otherwise low-risk women who are likely to deliver earlier.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and its association with pregnancy-related health outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common during pregnancy. Nevertheless, prevalence estimates of OSA have varied widely due to variabilities in the assessment methods. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the prevalence of objectively assessed OSA and its association with pregnancy-related health outcomes in pregnant women.

METHODS

This review was developed following the PRISMA guideline. A systematic search was conducted in major electronic databases to identify studies conducted from inception to January 2018. The pooled estimates with 95% confidence interval were calculated using the inverse variance method. Forest plots were used to present the results of individual studies and the pooled effect sizes.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies were included. The mean gestational age was between 21.2 (8.5) and 37.3 (2.1) weeks. The pooled worldwide prevalence of OSA was 15% (95% CI 12-18%). The prevalence estimates ranged from 5% in the European Region to 20% in the Region of Americas. The prevalence estimates for different trimesters ranged from 15 to 19%. OSA was related to an increased risk for gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, C-section, postoperative wound complication, and pulmonary edema. The pooled adjusted odds ratio (aOR) values were 1.97, 1.55, 2.35, 1.42, 1.87, and 6.35, respectively. OSA was also related to an increased risk for preterm birth (aOR = 1.62) and neonatal intensive care unit admission (aOR = 1.28).

CONCLUSIONS

OSA is a common health issue in pregnant women. OSA is associated with various pregnancy-related health outcomes. Routine screening, early diagnosis, and effective treatment of OSA are recommended in pregnant women, particularly during mid and late pregnancy.

The intrapartum and perinatal risks of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy: a systematic review and metaanalysis

OBJECTIVE DATA

Sleep-disordered breathing is an increasingly common condition in nonobstetric populations and is associated with significant morbidity. The incidence of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy is unknown, and it is likely that many cases go undiagnosed.

STUDY

A systematic review and metaanalysis was undertaken to determine whether pregnant women who receive a diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing are more likely to have adverse intrapartum and perinatal outcomes compared with control subjects.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cinahl databases were searched for full-text publications in English of sleep-disordered breathing and human pregnancy up to June 2017. Only studies that reported on sleep-disordered breathing in relation to gestational age or birthweight at delivery, preterm birth, mode of delivery, cord pH, Apgar score, nursery admission, stillbirth or perinatal death, meconium at delivery, or wound complications were included.

RESULTS

A total of 1576 results were identified; 33 studies met inclusion criteria. Women with sleep-disordered breathing were older (mean difference, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-2.28) and had a higher body mass index (mean difference, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 2.30-4.32) than those who did not. Maternal sleep-disordered breathing was associated significantly with preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation; odds ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.50-2.31) and low birthweight (<2500 g; odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.78). These women were also less likely to have a vaginal delivery (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.78) and to be at a higher risk of having an assisted vaginal delivery (odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-3.21) or a cesarean delivery (odds ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-2.11). The risk of both elective (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.09 - 1.76) and emergency cesarean (odds ratio, 2.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-5.29) was increased. In addition, women with sleep-disordered breathing were at a higher risk of having an infant with a 5-minute Apgar score <7 (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-3.71), stillbirth or perinatal death (odds ratio, 2.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.28), and neonatal nursery admission (odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-2.61).

CONCLUSION

Maternal sleep-disordered breathing is associated with increased risks of adverse intrapartum and perinatal outcomes.