Grant: Project Grant

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) occurs in ~ 30% of pregnant individuals by the third trimester and is an established risk factor for complications in pregnancy and postpartum. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line treatment for SDB. However, there is suboptimal adherence to treatment in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Despite the known harmful consequences of untreated SDB in this population, the barriers to treatment of SDB in pregnancy and postpartum have not been previously explored. The purpose of this study is to obtain an in-depth understanding of the factors contributing to CPAP uptake and use in 1) pregnancy and 2) postpartum. We will also ask patients on how to improve CPAP adherence. This study will include patient partners with a diagnosis with SDB in pregnancy and with varying degrees of challenges using CPAP during pregnancy and postpartum. The study team is multidisciplinary and includes sleep physicians and specialists in obstetric medicine. At two sites (McGill University Health Centre and London Health Sciences Centre), we will study a longitudinal cohort of 50 pregnant women with SDB, from whom we will gather continuous objective CPAP adherence data from the cloud and qualitative information from semi-structured interviews of participants. Interviews will be repeated in postpartum to assess barriers to CPAP use after delivery. The aims of the study will be to work alongside our patient partners to understand the knowledge, beliefs, perceived barriers and facilitators to CPAP use, among those adherent and those not adherent to CPAP, in both pregnancy and postpartum. Findings from this study will help facilitate the design of personalized and patient-led adherence interventions during pregnancy and postpartum. Such strategies will enable more parents and their children to realize the benefits of CPAP during pregnancy and postpartum.