Gestational diabetes and risk ofobstructive sleep apnea in the thirdtrimester

Abstract

Introduction: Physiological changes during pregnancy predispose women to
complications such as gestational diabetes (GD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Recent studies suggest a possible relationship between the two conditions in the third trimester; however, this relationship has not yet been sufficiently explored in local contexts. Objective: To evaluate the association between gestational diabetes (GD) and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in third-trimester pregnant women. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study included 152 pregnant women with ≥28 weeks' gestational age. OSA risk was assessed using the Epworth,
STOP-BANG, and Mallampati scales, while the presence of GD was determined using the IADPSG criteria. Crude prevalence ratios (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: A significant
association was observed between the risk of OSA and gestational diabetes (cPR = 1.465) as well as with hyperglycemia (cPR = 2.03). After the adjusted analysis, only hyperglycemia showed a significant association (aPR = 1.985). Conclusion: The risk of OSA was significantly associated with hyperglycemia in pregnancy, suggesting a
possible relationship with alterations in glycemic metabolism.