Physical activity and sleep quality and duration among Hispanic postpartum women at risk for type 2 diabetes: Estudio PARTO

Abstract

Objectives: Poor sleep among postpartum women is associated with adverse maternal outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is associated with better sleep. However, few studies have been conducted among postpartum Hispanic women. The objective of this study was to examine the association between PA and sleep quality and duration among postpartum Hispanic women.

Design: A cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from Estudio PARTO, an ongoing randomized controlled trial aimed at reducing type 2 diabetes risk among Hispanic women.

Setting: Baystate Medical Center, in Western Massachusetts, which serves an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse population.

Participants: Hispanic women, at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes, at a mean of 11 weeks (SD = 4.5) postpartum.

Measurements: PA was measured with the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), and sleep was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results: Mean sleep duration was 5.9 hour/night (SD = 1.7) and PSQI score was 6.5 (SD = 3.9). In multivariable logistic models, sports/exercise was associated with lower odds of very poor sleep quality (PSQI >10) (OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.69). Sports/exercise (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.26) and vigorous intensity PA (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.04 to 0.42) were associated with lower odds of short (vs normal) sleep duration. There were no statistically significant relationships between PA in any other domain or intensity and sleep quality or duration CONCLUSIONS: Findings can inform interventions designed to improve postpartum sleep via increasing opportunities for exercise among postpartum women.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Exercise; Physical activity; Postpartum; Women’s sleep.