Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy:Polysomnography is More Effective Than Berlin Sleep Questionnaire

According to a new research study findings theBerlin questionnaire performs poorly in predicting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in pregnant women compared to polysomnography. The detailed findings of this research study are published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Sofia A. Olivarez, M.D., of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, and colleagues conducted a prospective clinical trial of 100 women in the third trimester of pregnancy to determine the ability of the Berlin sleep questionnaire to predict OSA. The women all underwent polysomnography with concurrent fetal heart monitoring (FHM).

The researchers observed that 20 percent of the cohort was diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography, considered the diagnostic gold-standard. The Berlin screening questionnaire was 35 percent as sensitive as polysomnography and 63.8 percent as specific in predicting OSA.

The research also highlights that snoring-related portion of the Berlin questionnaire correlated well with having episodes of oxygen desaturation below 95 percent, and body mass index acted as a significant confounder. FHM abnormalities were not associated with OSA.

“Further research is needed to optimize the use of OSA screening questionnaires in pregnancy and to investigate the true mechanism by which OSA may lead to adverse pregnancy outcome,” say the researchers.

Tagged with: Berlin Questionnaire • Berlin sleep questionnaire • Body Mass Index • fetal heart monitoring • FHM • Obstructive Sleep Apnea • OSA • OSA Screening • Polysomnography • predict OSA • Pregnancy • pregnant women • Sleep Apnea • Snoring • Trimester

Filed under: Clinical Research • Obstructive Sleep Apnea • Polysomnography • Sleep • Sleep Apnea • Sleep Apnea Diagnosis • Sleep Apnea Effects • Sleep Apnea Research • Sleep Apnea Study • Sleep Problems

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!