The role of inflammation in the association between gestational diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea: A pilot study

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes. Mechanisms underlying the association between obstructive sleep apnea and gestational diabetes remain to be elucidated. Twenty-three participants with gestational diabetes underwent home sleep apnea testing. Obstructive sleep apnea was defined as an apnea hypopnea index？>？5. Fasting morning blood samples were measured using multianalyte profiling (xMAP) multiplexed bead array immunoassay for Interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and Interleukin 8. Age, body mass index, and gestational age at enrollment were 31？+？4.4 years, 35.7？+？7.4？kg/m2, and 28？±？4 weeks, respectively. Participants were 52% Caucasian and 16% had obstructive sleep apnea. We observed positive correlations between apnea hypopnea index and Interleukin 6 (r？=？0.62, p？=？0.005), Interleukin 8 (r？=？0.56, p？=？.56), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (r？=？.58, p？=？.009). Women with obstructive sleep apnea had higher levels of Interleukin 6 (F？=？5.01, p？=？.037) and Interleukin 8 (F？=？6.33, p？=？.021) vs. women without obstructive sleep apnea. These preliminary results indicate that in women with gestational diabetes, apnea hypopnea index is associated with an elevated inflammatory profile