Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment and Insulin Sensitivity in Pregnancy

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) worsens over pregnancy and is related to increased risk of gestational diabetes. Despite the fact that sleep disturbances are common during pregnancy, OSA remains under-diagnosed, and poorly understood particularly in pregnancies affected by obesity. At least 25 percent of pregnancies are now affected by obesity, a leading risk factor for OSA, yet the effect of treatment of OSA on patterns of metabolic function and specifically decreased insulin sensitivity in pregnant women with obesity is a neglected area with major therapeutic implications to improve maternal health. Inflammation with OSA may decrease insulin sensitivity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a known effective treatment for OSA and has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity outside of pregnancy. Our overall hypothesis is that, compared with standard care, CPAP will improve nighttime breathing, blood and tissue oxygenation, decrease markers of inflammation, and increase insulin sensitivity. Using a randomized controlled trial, we will determine the effect of CPAP on metabolic dysfunction induced by OSA in pregnant women with obesity.