Skip Navigation
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document
Use this QR code to view the newest version of this document

Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Gestational sleep deprivation is associated with higher offspring body mass index and blood pressure.

Authors: Harskamp-van Ginkel, Margreet W; Ierodiakonou, Despo; Margetaki, Katerina; Vafeiadi, Marina; Karachaliou, Marianna; Kogevinas, Manolis; Vrijkotte, Tanja G M; Chatzi, Leda

Published In Sleep, (2020 12 14)

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between gestational sleep deprivation and childhood adiposity and cardiometabolic profile. METHODS: Data were used from two population-based birth cohorts (Rhea study and Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study). A total of 3,608 pregnant women and their children were followed up until the age of 11 years. Gestational sleep deprivation was defined as 6 or fewer hours of sleep per day, reported by questionnaire. The primary outcomes included repeated measures of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat, serum lipids, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels in childhood. We performed a pooled analysis with adjusted linear mixed effect and Cox proportional hazards models. We tested for mediation by birthweight, gestational age, and gestational diabetes. RESULTS: Gestational sleep deprivation was associated with higher BMI (beta; 95% CI: 0.7; 0.4, 1.0 kg/m2) and waist circumference (beta; 95% CI: 0.9; 0.1, 1.6 cm) in childhood, and increased risk for overweight or obesity (HR; 95% CI: 1.4; 1.1, 2.0). Gestational sleep deprivation was also associated with higher offspring DBP (beta; 95% CI: 1.6; 0.5, 2.7 mmHg). The observed associations were modified by sex (all p-values for interaction < 0.05); and were more pronounced in girls. Gestational diabetes and shorter gestational age partly mediated the seen associations. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing that gestational sleep deprivation may increase offspring's adiposity and blood pressure, while exploring possible mechanisms. Attention to glucose metabolism and preterm birth might be extra warranted in mothers with gestational sleep deprivation.

PubMed ID: 32496519 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Child; Diabetes, Gestational*; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Premature Birth*; Risk Factors; Sleep Deprivation/complications; Sleep Deprivation/epidemiology; Waist Circumference

Back
to Top