Assessment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome risk at the end of pregnancy using the Berlin Questionnaire

Abstract

Objective: To assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and related factors at the end of pregnancy using the Berlin questionnaire.

Methods: A total of 367 women at the end of pregnancy (median gestational age 39 weeks) were interviewed with the Berlin questionnaire and a general survey containing maternal socio-demographic and anthropometric information. Neonatal outcome data were also assessed.

Results: Median age for the whole sample was 31 years. According to the Berlin questionnaire, 39.8% were positive for high risk of OSAHS. Upon bivariate analysis, higher risk of OSAHS was significantly related to church attendance, and higher pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), current BMI, weight, neck and arm circumference and systolic blood pressure at survey. Logistic regression analysis found that higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (OR 2.71 95% CI 1.84–4.00, p < 0.0001) and higher maternal weight at survey (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.78–5.17, p < 0.0001) were significantly related to a higher risk of OSAHS.

Conclusion: The risk of OSAHS is relatively high at the end of pregnancy and related to a higher pre-pregnancy BMI and higher maternal weight at survey. Further studies are needed to confirm our results with a diagnostic tool, such as polysomnography or another similar yet less complicated to carry out procedure.

Chinese abstract

目的：采用柏林睡眠品质调查问卷对孕晚期阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气（OSAHS）风险及相关因素的评估。

方法：采用柏林问卷调查了共367名孕晚期妇女（孕周中值为39周），并对其社会人口信息和人体测量学指标进行了综合评述。同时也评估了新生儿结局的相关数据。

结果：总样本中位数年龄为31岁。根据柏林问卷，39.8%处于OSAHS高风险。根据双变量分析，OSAHS高风险与参加礼拜、孕前高体重指数（BMI）、目前BMI、体重、颈围和臂围和收缩压显著相关。Logistic回归分析发现孕前母体BMI较高（OR 2.71 95% CI 1.84–4.00, p＜0.0001）和测量时母体体重较高（OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.78–5.17, p＜0.0001）均与OSAHS高风险显著相关。

结论：OSAHS风险在孕晚期相对较高，且与孕前BMI较高和测量时母亲体重较高相关。下一步的研究须应用诊断方法如多导睡眠描记术或其他较简单的类似方法以证实我们的研究结果。

• Apnea-hypopnea syndrome
• Berlin questionnaire
• pregnancy
• sleep-disordered breathing

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this manuscript.