Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles
Abstract Background Pregnant women often experience subjective sleep disturbances shown to be associated with maternal and fetal outcomes. However, subjectively experienced sleep often deviates from objective measurements. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between obje...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07634-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849389155829678080 |
|---|---|
| author | Caitlin Macdonald Tryfonas Pitsillos Anna-Karin Wikström Alkistis Skalkidou Peter Meerlo Jocelien Olivier Jelmer Prins Inger Sundström Poromaa Theodora Kunovac Kallak |
| author_facet | Caitlin Macdonald Tryfonas Pitsillos Anna-Karin Wikström Alkistis Skalkidou Peter Meerlo Jocelien Olivier Jelmer Prins Inger Sundström Poromaa Theodora Kunovac Kallak |
| author_sort | Caitlin Macdonald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Pregnant women often experience subjective sleep disturbances shown to be associated with maternal and fetal outcomes. However, subjectively experienced sleep often deviates from objective measurements. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between objectively measured sleep in early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers. Methodology A total of 1,610 pregnant women aged 18 or older from the Safe Physical Activity in Pregnancy (SPAP) study were recruited during early (week 10–14) to mid-pregnancy (week 16–19). Blood samples were taken and sleep was monitored using an Actiwatch, tracking total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep onset latency for 7 days in early to mid-pregnancy. A combined sleep categorisation was created using total sleep time and sleep efficiency to categorise participants into three sleep quality groups: Good, Intermediate, and Poor. Maternal and fetal outcomes were collected via questionnaires, medical records, and plasma samples were analysed using the Olink cardiovascular paneI Il (n = 407). Results A total of 1,444 participants were included. The women were categorized as good sleepers (50.4%), intermediate (32.6%), or poor sleepers (17.0%) based on the distribution of the participant’s sleep parameters. Poor sleep was more common in women born outside Europe, those with higher pre-gestational BMI, and those with pre-pregnancy diabetes. Sleep groups did not differ in metabolic factors. Poor sleep was associated with an increased likelihood of requiring an emergency caesarean section (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.13–3.05). No significant associations were found for other outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, premature birth, small for gestational age etc. Nine inflammatory biomarkers were significantly lower in poor sleepers, while one marker was higher. Conclusion Poor sleep in early to mid-pregnancy was more common in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy diabetes, obesity, and those born outside of Europe. Poor sleep was associated with a higher likelihood of emergency caesarean section, but no other maternal or fetal outcomes. An overall trend was observed towards lower levels of inflammatory markers in women that slept poorly; however, additional studies are needed to better understand the immune system’s role in the relationship between sleep, maternal health, and maternal and fetal outcomes. Possible mechanisms underlying these associations warrant further research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb493dbe8ba949a9b1529b79f5d96d9d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb493dbe8ba949a9b1529b79f5d96d9d2025-08-20T03:42:02ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-05-0125111210.1186/s12884-025-07634-9Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profilesCaitlin Macdonald0Tryfonas Pitsillos1Anna-Karin Wikström2Alkistis Skalkidou3Peter Meerlo4Jocelien Olivier5Jelmer Prins6Inger Sundström Poromaa7Theodora Kunovac Kallak8Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityNeurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenNeurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of GroningenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center GroningenDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala UniversityAbstract Background Pregnant women often experience subjective sleep disturbances shown to be associated with maternal and fetal outcomes. However, subjectively experienced sleep often deviates from objective measurements. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between objectively measured sleep in early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarkers. Methodology A total of 1,610 pregnant women aged 18 or older from the Safe Physical Activity in Pregnancy (SPAP) study were recruited during early (week 10–14) to mid-pregnancy (week 16–19). Blood samples were taken and sleep was monitored using an Actiwatch, tracking total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep onset latency for 7 days in early to mid-pregnancy. A combined sleep categorisation was created using total sleep time and sleep efficiency to categorise participants into three sleep quality groups: Good, Intermediate, and Poor. Maternal and fetal outcomes were collected via questionnaires, medical records, and plasma samples were analysed using the Olink cardiovascular paneI Il (n = 407). Results A total of 1,444 participants were included. The women were categorized as good sleepers (50.4%), intermediate (32.6%), or poor sleepers (17.0%) based on the distribution of the participant’s sleep parameters. Poor sleep was more common in women born outside Europe, those with higher pre-gestational BMI, and those with pre-pregnancy diabetes. Sleep groups did not differ in metabolic factors. Poor sleep was associated with an increased likelihood of requiring an emergency caesarean section (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.13–3.05). No significant associations were found for other outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, premature birth, small for gestational age etc. Nine inflammatory biomarkers were significantly lower in poor sleepers, while one marker was higher. Conclusion Poor sleep in early to mid-pregnancy was more common in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy diabetes, obesity, and those born outside of Europe. Poor sleep was associated with a higher likelihood of emergency caesarean section, but no other maternal or fetal outcomes. An overall trend was observed towards lower levels of inflammatory markers in women that slept poorly; however, additional studies are needed to better understand the immune system’s role in the relationship between sleep, maternal health, and maternal and fetal outcomes. Possible mechanisms underlying these associations warrant further research.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07634-9Sleep qualityActigraphyEarly pregnancyMaternal outcomesFetal outcomesInflammatory biomarkers |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Macdonald Tryfonas Pitsillos Anna-Karin Wikström Alkistis Skalkidou Peter Meerlo Jocelien Olivier Jelmer Prins Inger Sundström Poromaa Theodora Kunovac Kallak Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Sleep quality Actigraphy Early pregnancy Maternal outcomes Fetal outcomes Inflammatory biomarkers |
| title | Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| title_full | Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| title_fullStr | Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| title_short | Sleeping for two: a cross-sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid-pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| title_sort | sleeping for two a cross sectional study on associations between objectively measured sleep during early to mid pregnancy and maternal and fetal outcomes and inflammatory biomarker profiles |
| topic | Sleep quality Actigraphy Early pregnancy Maternal outcomes Fetal outcomes Inflammatory biomarkers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07634-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinmacdonald sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT tryfonaspitsillos sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT annakarinwikstrom sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT alkistisskalkidou sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT petermeerlo sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT jocelienolivier sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT jelmerprins sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT ingersundstromporomaa sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles AT theodorakunovackallak sleepingfortwoacrosssectionalstudyonassociationsbetweenobjectivelymeasuredsleepduringearlytomidpregnancyandmaternalandfetaloutcomesandinflammatorybiomarkerprofiles |