Study of Association of Sleep Disturbances with Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes

Pregnant women commonly experience sleep disturbances, which have been linked to hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, and adverse neonatal outcomes. However, evidence from Indian antenatal populations remains limited. This retrospective, hospital-based cross-sectional study assessed the association between sleep disturbances and maternal/perinatal outcomes among pregnant women attending an outpatient clinic.

The study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, over 18 months (January 2023-June 2024). One hundred consecutive antenatal women were recruited based on the predefined criteria. Sleep-related exposures included total sleep duration, perceived sleep quality, difficulty initiating sleep, nighttime awakenings, habitual snoring, self-reported sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Maternal variables included gravidity, previous abortions, high-risk status, antepartum events, premature rupture of membranes, mode of delivery, and liquor volume. Neonatal outcomes assessed were need for resuscitation, complications, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay >24 h, and APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and Chi-square, t-test/Mann-Whitney U, or Kruskal-Wallis tests (SPSS v20), with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Most participants were aged 21-30 years (61%) and primigravid (51%). Poor sleep quality (43%), snoring (49%), self-reported apnea (17%), and RLS (29%) were common. Poor sleep quality, short sleep duration, snoring, and nocturnal awakenings were significantly associated with high-risk maternal status and NICU stay >24 h. Lower APGAR scores were noted among women reporting short sleep, snoring, or apnea.

Multiple dimensions of disturbed sleep were significantly associated with adverse maternal characteristics and early neonatal compromise. Incorporating brief sleep screening into routine antenatal visits may help identify at-risk mothers for timely intervention.