Obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of preterm delivery

• Published in: Sleep & breathing 2016-09, Vol.20 (3), p.1111-1117
• Main Authors: Na-rungsri, Kunyalak, Lertmaharit, Somrat, Lohsoonthorn, Vitool, Totienchai, Surachart, Jaimchariyatam, Nattapong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Body Mass Index; Cohort Studies; Dentistry; Epidemiology • Original Article; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - epidemiology; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture - etiology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neurology; Obstetric Labor, Premature - epidemiology; Obstetric Labor, Premature - etiology; Odds Ratio; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Premature birth; Prospective Studies; Questionnaires; Risk; Sleep apnea; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - complications; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - epidemiology; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Thailand; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-016-1339-7

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to preterm delivery (PTD), using the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ). Methods This was a large, prospective cohort study among pregnant Thai women. The BQ was employed for symptom-based OSA screening during the second trimester, and PTD was recorded in 1345 pregnant women. Multivariate models were applied in controlling for potential confounders. Results The overall prevalence of the high risk of OSA was 10.1 %, and it was significantly associated with pre-pregnancy body mass index and score on the Perceived Stress Scale. An adjusted odds ratio for PTD in women with a high risk of OSA was 2.00 (95 % confidence intervals (CIs) = 1.20, 3.34). Stratified analyses, after adjusting for confounding factors, indicated that a high risk of OSA was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (odds ratio (OR) = 2.45, 95 % CI = 1.20, 5.02), but not with preterm premature rupture of membranes (OR = 1.61, 95 % CI = 0.61, 4.26), and medically indicated preterm delivery (OR = 1.83, 95 % CI = 0.72, 4.64). Conclusion Pregnant women with a high risk of OSA are at an increased risk of having PTD, compared with pregnant women with a low risk of OSA.