Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for preeclampsia-eclampsia.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Preeclampsia-eclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality.
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to hypertension and may contribute to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
• Limited research exists on OSA's impact on preeclampsia-eclampsia in Asia, particularly in Thailand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and preeclampsia-eclampsia in pregnant Thai women.
• To address the data gap regarding OSA and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in Southeast Asia.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 1345 pregnant Thai women in their second trimester.
• The Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) was used to assess the risk for OSA.
• Preeclampsia-eclampsia diagnosis followed standard clinical assessment; multivariate models adjusted for confounders.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of high risk for OSA was 10.1% among the participants.
• High risk for OSA was associated with pre-pregnancy body mass index and perceived stress.
• Women with a high risk for OSA had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.72 for preeclampsia-eclampsia.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant women with a high risk for OSA face a greater risk of developing preeclampsia-eclampsia.
• Antenatal screening for OSA using the Berlin Questionnaire is supported by these findings.