Abstract
Background: Women appear to be increasingly susceptible to snoring and sleep disorders breathing during pregnancy. However pregnant women with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) are less likely to be assessed or to receive a diagnosis.
Objective: the aim of this report was to evaluate the prevalence of common symptoms of OSAHS in pregnant women and secondarily to seek a link with Pregnancy-induced blood hypertension and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
Method: An observational study of 120 pregnant women who responded to a predetermined questionnaire 24 hours after giving birth in a maternity.
Results: the mean age was 28±5,6 years, the mean parity was 1.88±1,1 and the average duration of pregnancy was 39.33±1,6 weeks. IUGR, Pregnancy-induced blood hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus was identified in 4.2%; 2.5% and 1.7% of participants, respectively. No women had developed eclampsia or pre-eclampsia. The most 3 frequently reported sleep-related symptoms were nycturia (84.2%), poor sleep quality (55%) and sleep onset insomnia (38.3%). Snoring occurred in 17.5%of the patients while 98,2% of them did not snore before pregnancy. The prevalence of this symptom was significantly higher in eldest women (p < 0.03). The average Epworth sleep score was 3.18 (0 à 12) and was significantly correlated with IUGR (0.045) but not with Pregnancy-induced blood hypertension or premature birth. Obesity was significantly more frequent among women with daytime sleepiness or snoring.
Conclusion: OSAHS in pregnancy seems to have important fetal outcomes. Pregnant women should be assessed for symptoms of OSAHS and suspected cases should be offered polysomnography.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
