PP155. Relationship between overnight blood pressure and snoring during pregnancy

A Robertson; P Johnson; S Middleton; M Norman; A Hennessy

doi:10.1016/j.preghy.2012.04.266

PP155. Relationship between overnight blood pressure and snoring during pregnancy

Pregnancy Hypertens. 2012 Jul;2(3):322-3. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2012.04.266. Epub 2012 Jun 13.

Authors

A Robertson¹, P Johnson², S Middleton², M Norman², A Hennessy³

Affiliations

¹ Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia; Medicine, South Western Sydney Local District Health, Campbelltown, Australia.
² Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.
³ Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Australia; Medicine, South Western Sydney Local District Health, Campbelltown, Australia; Medical Research, Heart Research Instutue, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 26105476
DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2012.04.266

Abstract

Introduction: Snoring increases during the last trimester of pregnancy and is linked with both gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. Previous studies have used questionnaires to determine the presence and severity of snoring.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare self- reported and objectively measured snoring in pregnancy.

Methods: We studied 154 pregnant women. The results from the "Do you snore?" question of the Berlin questionnaire was compared with objectively measured snoring obtained during an at-home SonoMat™ study (a thin mattress overlay with sensors that measure breath sounds, breathing movement, heart sounds and body movement).

Results: Ninety eight women (mean gestation 28±7 weeks) answered "Yes" to the question "Do you snore?"; 48 women answered "No"; and 8 women answered "I don't know". In the group who answered "Yes", recorded snoring average was 20±19% of the night; in the "No" group, recorded snoring was 13±22% and in the "I don't know" group snoring was recorded as 22±21%. There was a significant difference between the percentages of snoring recorded in women who answered "yes" compared to those who answered "no" (p=0.04) but no other differences between groups.

Conclusion: Snoring is very common in pregnancy, but questionnaire results provide only an approximate estimate of the presence of snoring. Importantly, significant snoring was present in 24% of women who denied snoring, and a significant number of women who reported snoring had minimal objectively recorded snoring. Objective measurement of snoring is needed to determine whether snoring is present in pregnant women.