Aims
To examine the association between sleep disturbances during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.
Methods
From 2010 to 2012, 12 506 women in Tianjin, China, were screened using a 50‐g 1‐h glucose challenge test at 24–28 weeks’ gestation. Those with glucose challenge test values of ≥ 7.8 mmol/l were invited to further undergo a 75‐g 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test. Gestational diabetes was determined according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's definition. Self‐reported sleep duration and sleep quality during pregnancy was documented using a modified questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% CIs.
Results
A total of 919 women (7.3%) had gestational diabetes. Sleep duration was found to have an approximate J‐shaped association with gestational diabetes risk after adjusting for covariates. Compared with a sleep duration of 7–9 h/day (43% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios for sleep duration of ≥ 9 h/day (55%) and < 7 h/day (2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.21 (95% CI 1.03–1.42) and 1.36 (95% CI 0.87–2.14), respectively. Compared with good sleep quality (37.9% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios of moderate (59.9%) and poor sleep quality (2.2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.19 (95% CI 1.01–1.41) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.04–2.50), respectively.
Conclusion
In pregnant Chinese women, poor sleep quality, and shorter and longer duration of sleep during pregnancy were independently associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes.