Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40325393›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

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.

Caitlin Macdonald, Tryfonas Pitsillos, Anna-Karin Wikström, Alkistis Skalkidou, Peter Meerlo, Jocelien Olivier, Jelmer Prins, Inger Sundström Poromaa, Theodora Kunovac Kallak

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Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Caitlin MacdonaldDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
Tryfonas PitsillosDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
Anna-Karin WikströmDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
Alkistis SkalkidouDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
Peter MeerloNeurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jocelien OlivierNeurobiology Expertise Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Jelmer PrinsDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Inger Sundström PoromaaDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden.
Theodora Kunovac KallakDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden. theodora.kunovac_kallak@uu.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPregnant 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).

resultsA 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.

conclusionPoor 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.

Indexed as

Pregnancy ComplicationsSleepSleep QualitySleep Wake DisordersAdultBiomarkersCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInflammationPregnancyPregnancy OutcomePregnancy Trimester, SecondYoung AdultBiomarkersActigraphyEarly pregnancyFetal outcomesInflammatory biomarkersMaternal outcomesObjective sleep parametersSleep quality

Identifiers

PMID40325393
PMCPMC12054240

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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.