Implications of study
The correlation between sleep disturbances and higher blood pressure urges clinicians and researchers to recognize the importance of sleep during pregnancy and explore ways to improve sleep antenatally. Screening for sleep disruption is not routinely done in most obstetric units. Short questionnaire on sleep quality can be incorporated into routine obstetric care. Early identification of patients at risk of sleep disturbances and intervention at early stage may offer some benefit in pregnancy outcome. Studies on potential interventions in improving sleep in pregnancy are rather limited. Stremler R et al conducted a randomized controlled trial on the effect of behavioural-educational intervention in improving sleep in postpartum women. Although no significance was found in the primary outcome of nocturnal sleep, it is still worth exploring intervention during early pregnancy instead of postpartum when sleep is interfered by breastfeeding significantly. Another interesting study recently reported significant improvement of sleep in terms of longer sleep duration and less sleep disruption with home-based cognitive-behavioural training program during late pregnancy29. Further studies on possible interventions antenatally to improve sleep and potentially lower blood pressure would be valuable.