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Exercise in Pregnancy and Risk of Postpartum Depression: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Gabriele Saccone1, Giorgia Buonomo1, Alessandra Ammendola1
1Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Objective:
To evaluate whether regular aerobic exercise during pregnancy reduces the incidence of postpartum depression in women with low-risk singleton pregnancies.
Design:
Single-centre randomised controlled trial.
Setting:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Population Or Sample:
A total of 398 women with low-risk singleton pregnancies enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Methods:
Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to an exercise group or control group. The intervention consisted of a structured aerobic exercise programme (three 60-min sessions per week) from randomisation until 35 weeks' gestation, or earlier if delivery or obstetric complications occurred. The primary outcome was Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥ 12 3 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes included EPDS ≥ 9, clinical diagnosis of postpartum depression (DSM-V), and maternal/perinatal outcomes. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis, with relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) calculated.
Main Outcome Measures:
Incidence of postpartum depression, defined as EPDS ≥ 12 at 3 months postpartum.
Results:
Of the 398 participants, 199 were randomised to the exercise group and 199 to the control group. Women in the exercise group had a significantly lower incidence of EPDS ≥ 12 and ≥ 9 at 3 months postpartum compared with controls, as well as lower mean EPDS scores. No significant differences in adverse maternal or perinatal outcomes were observed.
Conclusions:
Regular antenatal aerobic exercise significantly reduced the risk of postpartum depression, supporting its role as a preventive strategy in low-risk pregnancies.
Trial Registration:
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT06355375.
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