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Childhood Health and Educational Outcomes Associated With Maternal Sleep Apnea: A Population Record-Linkage Study

Yu Sun Bin1,2, Peter A Cistulli2,3,4, Christine L Roberts1,2

  • 1Clinical and Population Perinatal Health Research, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, Australia.

Sleep
|October 14, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Maternal sleep apnea during pregnancy is linked to increased childhood hospitalizations and lower reading scores in children. Further research is needed to understand its impact on development and cognition.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Sleep apnea during pregnancy (maternal sleep apnea) is known to negatively impact birth outcomes.
  • The long-term effects of in utero exposure to maternal sleep apnea on child development are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal sleep apnea during pregnancy and long-term childhood health and developmental outcomes.
  • To assess risks for mortality, hospitalizations, developmental vulnerability, and academic performance in children exposed to maternal sleep apnea.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based longitudinal study utilized linked records from births, hospitalizations, deaths, developmental assessments, and educational data in New South Wales, Australia (2002-2012).
  • Maternal sleep apnea was identified from hospital records. Outcomes included mortality, hospitalizations up to age 6, developmental vulnerability at school entry (ages 5-6), and academic performance (ages 7-9).
  • Statistical models (Cox proportional hazards, modified Poisson regression) were used to compare outcomes in exposed versus unexposed children.

Main Results:

  • Of 626,188 infants, 209 were exposed to maternal sleep apnea.
  • Maternal sleep apnea was not significantly associated with mortality, developmental vulnerability, special needs, or low numeracy.
  • However, maternal sleep apnea was linked to lower reading test scores (adjusted RR 1.55) and significantly increased hospitalizations in the first year of life (adjusted HR 1.81) and up to age 6 (adjusted HR 1.41), partly due to suspected pediatric sleep apnea admissions.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal sleep apnea during pregnancy is associated with poorer childhood health outcomes, particularly increased hospitalizations and lower reading performance.
  • The findings highlight a need for further investigation into the developmental and cognitive impacts of maternal sleep apnea exposure.
  • Early identification and management of sleep apnea in pregnant individuals may be crucial for improving long-term child health.
Abstract

Keywords:
New South Waleschild developmentchild mortalityeducational statushospitalizationinfant mortalitylongitudinal studiesmaternal healthpregnancy complicationssleep apnea syndromes

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