The Adverse Effects of Anxiety and Depression on Pregnant Women with Hypothyroidism in Late Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy are significant public health concerns commonly reported worldwide among pregnant women. This study aimed to investigate the impact of anxiety and depression on thyroid function, pregnancy outcomes, and sleep quality among pregnant women with hypothyroidism in the later stages of pregnancy.

Methods: Eighty cases of pregnant women with hypothyroidism in late pregnancy who were treated at Zhangjiakou First Hospital from January 2021 to October 2023 were selected for this retrospective study. The pregnant women in late pregnancy were divided into four groups according to the scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): control group with 20 cases, anxiety group with 18 cases, depression group with 22 cases, and anxiety-depression group with 20 cases. A comparison was made among the four groups regarding general information of pregnant women in late pregnancy, HADS scale scores, levels of free thyroxine (FT4, FT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and sleep quality at different time periods.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in comparing general information among the four groups of pregnant women in late pregnancy (p > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in HADS depression and HADS anxiety scores (p < 0.05), levels of FT4, FT3, TSH in pregnant women in late pregnancy postpartum (p < 0.05), occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (p < 0.05), and comparison of sleep quality of pregnant women in late pregnancy at 1, 3, and 5 months of follow-up among the groups (F = 5.735, 23.930, 11.573, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Anxiety and depression significantly impact thyroid function, pregnancy outcomes, and sleep quality in pregnant women with hypothyroidism in late pregnancy, which is detrimental to the health of pregnant women in late pregnancy. Therefore, necessary interventions are needed.