Snoring, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and growth retardation of the fetus.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to study the relationship between snoring and pregnancy-induced hypertension and growth retardation of the fetus.


METHODS
Retrospective, cross-sectional, consecutive case series.


METHODS
The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Umeâ, Sweden.


METHODS
On the day of delivery, 502 women with singleton pregnancies completed a questionnaire about snoring, witnessed sleep apneas, and daytime fatigue. Data concerning medical complications were taken from the women's casebooks.


RESULTS
During the last week of pregnancy, 23% of the women reported snoring every night. Only 4% reported snoring before becoming pregnant. Hypertension developed in 14% of snoring women, compared with 6% of nonsnorers (p < 0.01). Preeclampsia occurred in 10% of snorers, compared with 4% of nonsnorers (p < 0.05). An Apgar score < or = 7 was more common in infants born to habitual snorers. Growth retardation of the fetus, defined as small for gestational age at birth, had occurred in 7.1% of the infants of snoring mothers and 2.6% of the remaining infants (p < 0.05). Habitual snoring was independently predictive of hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 2.03; p < 0.05) and growth retardation (OR, 3.45; p < 0.01) in a logistic regression analysis controlling for weight, age, and smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
Snoring is common in pregnancy and is a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Snoring indicates a risk of growth retardation of the fetus.
Franklin
K A
KA
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. Karl.Franklin@lung.umu.se
Holmgren
P A
PA
Jönsson
F
F
Poromaa
N
N
Stenlund
H
H
Svanborg
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012913:Snoring / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires