Study Design and Protocol of the Multisite Pregnancy 24/7 Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Cardiovascular Health
• Sleep and Circadian Science

Background:

• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and other adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) increase future maternal cardiovascular disease risk.
• Physical activity during pregnancy is known to reduce APO risk, but adherence to guidelines is low.
• The role of sedentary behavior and sleep in APOs remains largely unexamined, despite their prevalence in a 24-hour day.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between sedentary behavior, sleep, and the 24-hour activity cycle with hypertensive disorders and other APOs.
• To address the knowledge gap regarding the impact of daily activity composition on pregnancy outcomes.
• To provide data for future interventions aimed at improving maternal health through activity cycle modification.

Main Methods:

• The Pregnancy 24/7 cohort study (2020-2025) involves 500 participants recruited from three universities.
• Two devices (activPAL3 micro and Actiwatch Spectrum Plus) are used for 7-day, 24-hour activity monitoring in each trimester.
• Adverse pregnancy outcomes are abstracted from medical records.

Main Results:

• Data collection is ongoing; specific results are pending.
• The study is designed to yield significant findings on the 24-hour activity cycle and APOs.
• Preliminary analysis will focus on the composition of sedentary behavior, physical activity, and sleep.

Conclusions:

• This research will offer critical insights into the relationship between daily activity patterns and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Findings are expected to inform strategies for optimizing maternal health during and after pregnancy.
• Understanding the 24-hour activity cycle is key to preventing future cardiovascular disease in mothers.