Cytokines_Sleep

Background It is unclear whether subjective or objective measures of sleep during pregnancy are more pertinent to pregnancy outcomes. Moreover, it is unclear as to whether subjective indices (ie, those likely influenced by psychological thoughts and emotions) are more likely than objective measures to modify inflammatory cytokines. Method Subjective and objective measures of sleep were collected from 166 pregnant women. Sleep data, both aggregate and variability measures, from diary and actigraphy, were ascertained for three 2-week periods during early gestation (10–20 weeks). A fasting morning blood sample was assayed for the cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). Sleep, stress, and depression questionnaires were also collected. Repeated measures ANOVAs, regression models, and independent t tests were used to analyze the data.