24-Hour Sleep Duration in Early Gestation is Associated with Increased Markers of Inflammation Among Women with a History of Preeclampsia

Background: Sleep duration, both short and long, is recognized as a potential contributor to adverse health conditions. This study evaluated whether long sleep duration in early gestation (15 weeks) was associated with increased circulating concentrations of inflammatory cytokines across pregnancy. Methods: Self-reported 24-hour sleep duration and blood samples were obtained concurrently at 15, 24 and 36 weeks gestation in 85 pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia. Plasma samples were assayed for the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, -6, -8, IFN, TNF, GM-CSF and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, -5, and -10 using Luminex technology. A ratio of pro-to-anti-inflammatory cytokines was calculated using multiples of the median (MOMs) for each relevant cytokine type to normalize the data for comparison. Data were analyzed using repeated measures mixed models.