Cardiovascular Dynamics during Sleep as Technological Support for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy, a natural period for women, can be profoundly affected by some diseases that compromise the health and well-being of both mother and fetus. Unfortunately, disparities in maternal health care lead to adverse outcomes, including higher rates of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity among underserved populations. This paper explores the potential of a simple sleep and cardiovascular monitoring tool to promote health equity during pregnancy and could help that all expectant mothers receive optimal care based on cardiovascular state. Specifically, monitoring heart rate at any body site allows the assessment of the behavior of the autonomous nervous system (ANS) associated with different stages of sleep and events such as arousals and apneas. Furthermore, the measurement of the heart beat at two different body sites allows the evaluation of the vascular state, which is also related to the different sleep stages and events of sleep. Thus, we propose the creation of a simple sleep profile generated at different time scales that could give an idea of the dynamics at large-and small-scales of the ANS and vascular behavior by using simple and affordable gadgets. Some future research directions include: validation studies in diverse populations, personalized intervention strategies, and postpartum monitoring. Finally, even if the idea is affordable, the biggest challenge comes from the fact that some women in underserved populations may still face barriers to accessing the technology, including limited education on its use, lack of Internet access, or other infrastructure issues in low-resource areas.