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The upper airway in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia
Bilgay Izci1, Renata L Riha, Sascha E Martin
1Edinburgh Sleep Centre and Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|November 2, 2002
Summary
Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia exhibit narrowed upper airways, increasing snoring and potentially blood pressure. This study compared airway dimensions in pregnant, pre-eclamptic, and non-pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Sleep Medicine
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Snoring is prevalent in pregnancy and linked to higher pre-eclampsia rates.
- Pre-eclampsia patients often display upper airway narrowing during sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare upper airway dimensions in pregnant, pre-eclamptic, and non-pregnant women.
- To investigate the relationship between upper airway morphology and pre-eclampsia.
Main Methods:
- Acoustic reflection was used to measure upper airway dimensions.
- Study included 50 pregnant, 37 pre-eclamptic, and 50 non-pregnant women.
- Statistical analysis included ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls tests.
Main Results:
- Snoring prevalence was significantly higher in pre-eclamptic (75%) and pregnant (28%) women compared to non-pregnant women (14%).
- Pre-eclamptic women showed reduced oropharyngeal junction area in both seated and supine positions compared to non-pregnant women.
- Pregnant women had wider seated upper airways than non-pregnant women, but no difference when supine.
Conclusions:
- Women with pre-eclampsia exhibit upper airway narrowing in both upright and supine postures.
- This narrowing may contribute to sleep-related upper airway resistance and elevated blood pressure in pre-eclampsia.
- Findings highlight potential respiratory implications of pre-eclampsia.