Evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea prevalence in mothers of infants with low birth weight and its relationship with serum uric acid levels as a hypoxia marker

Abstract

Objective

Serum uric acid level, which is an oxidative stress marker, may increase in some conditions that lay the ground for the hypoxia. However, recent literature lacks studies with large series on this subject. We aimed to examine the incidence of OSAS in mothers who delivered a low birth weight baby and its association with serum uric acid levels as a hypoxia marker.

Methods

We enrolled 143 pregnant women, 44 of whom delivered a low birth weight (LBW) baby. We made a face-to-face interview in which we asked the questions in the patient follow-up form, comprising three sections. The form included questions regarding the sociodemographic features and obstetric history of the participant women, besides the Berlin Questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. We recorded the blood test parameters that are obtained from patient records in the last section.

Results

Mean uric acid (UA) levels of mothers with a LBW baby (n = 44, birth weight below 2500 g) were 4.51 ± 1.23 mg/dL (min–max = 2.7–8.0) while the UA levels in mothers of normal weighted (NBW) babies (n = 99, birth weight is 2500 g or above) were 4.08 ± 0.75 (min–max = 2.6–6.1 mg/dL). The UA levels of mothers who delivered LBW infants were significantly higher compared with the mothers of NBW babies (p = .010).

Conclusion

Uric acid levels can be used as a prognostic parameter for the closer monitoring of pregnant women who have been diagnosed with small-for-gestational-age babies during pregnancy.

Keywords:

• Uric acid
• low birth weight
• hypoxia
• sleep disturbance
• OSAS

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. We certify that we had no relationship with companies that may have a financial interest.