Association between maternal anxiety in pregnancy and increased uterine artery resistance index: cohort based study

Objective To investigate whether maternal anxiety in the third trimester is associated with an increased uterine artery resistance index. Design Cohort based study. Subjects 100 pregnant women, with a mean gestation of 32 weeks. Outcome measures Self rating Spielberger questionnaire for state anxiety and trait anxiety, and uterine blood now waveform patterns as assessed by colour Doppler ultrasound. Results A significant association was found between uterine artery resistance index and scores for both Spielberger state anxiety and trait anxiety (r(s) = 0.31, P < 0.002 and 0.28 P < 0.005 respectively). Women with state anxiety scores > 40 (n = 15) had a higher mean uterine resistance index than those with scores less than or equal to 40 (mean difference with mean resistance index 24%, 95% confidence interval 12% to 38%; P < 0.0001), Similarly, women with trait anxiety scores >40 (n=32) had a higher mean resistance index than those with scores less than or equal to 40, although to a lesser extent. The presence of notches in the waveform pattern produced by uterine artery blood now was found in 4/15 (27%) women with high state anxiety scores compared with 4/85 (5%) with low anxiety scores (P < 0.02). Conclusions This study shows an association between maternal anxiety in pregnancy and increased uterine artery resistance index. It suggests a mechanism by which the psychological state of the mother may affect fetal development, and may explain epidemiological associations between maternal anxiety and low birth weight The influence of maternal anxiety may be one mechanism by which the intrauterine environment contributes to later disease in offspring.