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

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.