Comparison of Cognitive Function in Different Trimesters of Pregnancy

Background: Although pregnancy is a normal function in women, it is considered as a stressful experience which is associated with many psychological and physical changes in pregnant women. Objectives: This study aims to investigate and compare cognitive function in different trimesters of pregnancy. Materials & Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study. Participants were ۷۶ pregnantwomen with a mean age of ۳۰.۰۹±۶.۲۳ years referred to Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht, Iran during ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰. Participants were assessed in three trimesters of pregnancy using the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). The multilevel mixed-effects linear regression and repeated measures ANOVA were used for data analysis. All analyses were done in SPSS software v. ۱۹ and Stata v. ۱۴. Results: The mean score of WMS was significantly lower in the third trimester (۸۴.۹۵±۱۲.۰۷) than in the first and second trimesters (۸۹.۳۴±۱۳.۱۳ and ۸۸.۷۲±۱۳.۲۴, respectively) (P=۰.۰۰۱). The results of linear regression analysis showed no significant difference in MMSE score between different trimesters of pregnancy (P>۰.۰۵), while the WMS score was significantly different between different pregnancy trimesters; the change in WMS score was statistically significant only in the third trimester (P= ۰.۰۴). Conclusion: No impairment in general cognitive function occur during pregnancy, but memory impairment may occur. In the third trimester, pregnant women have the poorest memory function.

Keywords:

Cognition , Pregnant women , Pregnancy trimesters , Memory