Abstract: Obesity is increasingly common among pregnant women in China; 15%-20% of obese pregnant women have obstructive sleep apnea(OSA). Untreated OSA will result in a range of cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic complications. Hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDP) is the leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. OSA during pregnancy may be at risk of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, leading to a poor outcome in the fetus. The relationship between OSA and HDP and its fetal hypoxemia and neonatal related complications has not been clearly elucidated. In this review, we review the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, its possible mechanisms, and the effectiveness of alleviating these adverse consequences.

Key words: Obstructive sleep apnea, Gestational hypertension, Maternal hypoxemia, Pathogenesis