Observational studyBMC pregnancy and childbirth2023
Mental health, sleep quality, and hormonal circadian rhythms in pregnant women with threatened preterm labor: a prospective observational study.
Observational study in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Melatonin and Artificial Light: Effects on Maternal and Fetal Health During Pregnancy.Obstetrics and gynecology international · 2026Review
- A qualitative study on sleep experiences in late pregnancy among women with a history of perinatal loss.PloS one · 2026Article
- Lateral recumbent position versus kneeling prone position combined with unprotected perineal delivery in natural childbirth: implication for clinical care.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Research prospect of human salivary cortisol: a bibliometric analysis.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Review
- Article
- Analytical Analysis of Factors Affecting the Accuracy of a Dual-Heat Flux Core Body Temperature Sensor.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Association between exposure to outdoor artificial light at night and the risk of preterm birth.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThreatened preterm labor (TPL) is an important obstetrical challenge. Pregnant women with TPL may develop psychological and physical problems such as mental health disorders, sleep disturbance, and hormonal circadian rhythm disruption. This study aimed to investigate the current state of mental health, sleep quality, and circadian rhythms of cortisol and melatonin secretion in pregnant women with TPL and normal pregnant women (NPW).
methodsA prospective observational clinical study was conducted at a maternal and child health hospital in Fuzhou, China, between June and July 2022. A total of 50 women between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation (TPL group, n = 20; NPW group, n = 30) were recruited. Data on anxiety symptom (Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale, SAS), depression symptom (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, EPDS), subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI) and objective sleep outcomes (measured by actigraphy) of the pregnant women were collected at the time of enrolment. Salivary samples were collected once every 6 h (i.e., at 06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00) during 2 consecutive days to measure the circadian rhythm of hormone (cortisol and melatonin).
resultsThere were no differences found in the total scores of SAS, EPDS scores, subjective sleep quality between the TPL and NPW groups (P > 0.05). In contrast, significant differences were found in sleep efficiency, total sleep time, wake time after sleep onset, and average awakening time between the groups (P < 0.05). The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion was disrupted in the TPL group (P = 0.350); however, it was maintained in the NPW group (P = 0.044). The circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion was disrupted in both groups (P > 0.05).
conclusionsIn the third trimester of pregnancy, women with TPL suffer from poorer sleep quality and disruption of circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion compared with NPW. Nevertheless, there were no differences found in mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression) and circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion. Large-scale studies should be conducted to evaluate these changes in women with TPL.
trial registrationThe study was registered from Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Number: ChiCTR2200060674) on 07/06/2022.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.