Abstract
Introduction
Sleep apnea is emerging as an important and underdiagnosed comorbidity in pregnancy. Screening, diagnosis, and initiation of therapy are all time-sensitive processes during the dynamic progression of gestation. Completion of referral and testing for sleep apnea during pregnancy requires a significant commitment of time and effort on the part of the pregnant patient. We evaluated for predictors of non-completion of sleep apnea testing within our obstetric-sleep referral pipeline, in an effort to inform and optimize future referrals.
Methods
We performed a retrospective chart-review of 405 pregnant patient referrals for sleep apnea evaluation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison/UnityPoint sleep apnea pregnancy clinic. We used logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of lack of completion of sleep apnea testing.
Results
The vast majority of referrals (>95%) were triaged directly to home sleep apnea testing with the Alice PDX portable device, rather than a sleep clinic visit. The overall rate of referral non-completion was 59%. Predictors of non-completion of sleep apnea evaluation in our pregnant population included higher gestational age (GA) at referral (1–12 wks GA: 30%, 13–26 wks GA: 31%, and 27–40 wks GA: 57% non-completers, p=0.006) and multiparity with 1 or more living children (65% non-completers if any living children, compared to 45% non-completers if no living children, p=0.002). Age, race, and transportation were not predictors of failure to complete sleep apnea testing.
Conclusion
We have identified several predictors of pregnant patients’ failure to complete sleep apnea evaluation with objective home sleep apnea testing after referral from obstetrics. Not surprisingly, higher gestational age emerged as a strong negative predictor of referral completion, with >50% of patients referred in the third trimester not completing sleep apnea testing. Early screening and referral for sleep apnea evaluation in pregnancy should be prioritized, given the time-sensitive nature of diagnosis and therapy initiation, and demonstrated reduced completion of referrals in advanced pregnancy.
Support (if any)
None
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