Neonatal outcomes in women with diabetes mellitus — analysis of DAPSY data

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia in pregnancy is associated with short- and long-term implications for children. Nevertheless, the effects of different types of diabetes mellitus and treatment methods on the neonatal outcomes are to be investigated.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of different types of maternal diabetes mellitus to the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included women (n = 3261) who delivered at the Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology named after D.O. Ott, Saint Petersburg, Russia in 2008–2017. The following comparison groups were used: type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 506; 1a, continuous subcutaneous insulin injections; 1b, multiple daily insulin injections), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 229; 2a, diet; 2b, insulin therapy), gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 2387; 3a, diet; 3b, insulin therapy), and control (n = 139). The main birth outcomes assessed included weight and length of newborns, Apgar score at birth and at 5 minutes after birth, and pathological conditions such as fetal macrosomia, syndrome of infant of mother with gestational diabetes mellitus or diabetic mother (P70.0–P70.1), light (P05.0) or small for gestational age (P05.1), intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity (P07), neonatal hypoglycemia (P70.4), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (P22). The secondary birth outcomes assessed included birth trauma (P10–P15), stillbirth (P95), disturbances of cerebral status of newborn (P91), and congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00–Q99).

RESULTS: Pregestational diabetes mellitus is strongly associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. Type 1 diabetes mellitus women had the highest risks for fetal macrosomia and diabetic fetopathy, neonatal hypoglycemia, prematurity, and congenital malformations (odds ratio 3.54, 20.2, 5.59, 4.24 and 3.92 respectively). In type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, the risks of low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction and birth trauma (odds 9.14, 5.42 and 6.3 respectively) were higher. For women with gestational diabetes mellitus, these risks were lower.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the major neonatal pathology in patients with different types of diabetes mellitus, taking into account the treatment method. Preconception care and optimal glycemic control are necessary to reduce the risk of obstetric and perinatal complications in women with pregestational types of diabetes mellitus. Further research into the health status of this cohort of children at a later age is required.