Is Screening Positive for Sleep Apnea Associated With a Higher Rate of Miscarriage? [33J]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether positive questionnaire-based screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with higher rates of miscarriage (SAB). METHODS: Secondary analysis of a prospective observational study of participants enrolled in an OSA screening study between 2010–2012. This analysis received an IRB exemption. A screening questionnaire with standard Epworth (ESS), Berlin (BQ), and novel items was administered at a prenatal care visit. The results of women who completed the survey in the first trimester (1T) were assessed for association with SAB. RESULTS: In a cohort of 213 women screened in the 1T, 30% (n=64) had elevated BQ or ESS scores, 18.8% (n=40) had high ESS scores and 14.6% (n=31) had elevated BQ scores suggestive of risk of OSA. 3.29% (n=7) had high ESS and BQ scores. Women who had both elevated ESS and BQ scores were more likely to experience SAB than those who had elevated scores on one or neither (P=.018). Women who reported snoring (P=.042) or hypertension (P=.013) in the 1T were more likely to experience SAB than women who did not. In contrast, women who reported napping in the 1T were less likely to experience SAB than women who did not (P=.045). CONCLUSION: Elevated BQ and ESS scores are statistically significantly associated with SAB. Snoring, naps and hypertension were the only individual questions from the BQ and ESS with statistically significant associations with SAB. Further investigation into this topic is warranted.