Published online Mar 6, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i7.2147
Peer-review started: July 14, 2021
First decision: August 8, 2021
Revised: September 21, 2021
Accepted: January 25, 2022
Article in press: January 25, 2022
Published online: March 6, 2022
Processing time: 230 Days and 11.7 Hours
Diabetes rates among pregnant women in the United States have been increasing and are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
To investigate differences in birth outcomes (preterm birth, macrosomia, and neonatal death) by diabetes status.
Cross-sectional design, using linked Missouri birth and death certificates (singleton births only), 2010 to 2012 (n = 204057). Exposure was diabetes (non-diabetic, pre-pregnancy diabetes-insulin dependent (PD-I), pre-pregnancy diabetes-non-insulin dependent (PD-NI), gestational diabetes- insulin dependent (GD-I), and gestational diabetes-non-insulin dependent (GD-NI)]. Outcomes included preterm birth, macrosomia, and infant mortality. Confounders included demographic characteristics, adequacy of prenatal care, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, and previous preterm birth. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression assessed differences in outcomes by diabetes status.
Women with PD-I, PD-NI, and GD-I remained at a significantly increased odds for preterm birth (aOR 2.87, aOR 1.77, and aOR 1.73, respectively) and having a very large baby [macrosomia] (aOR 3.01, aOR 2.12, and aOR 1.96, respectively); in reference to non-diabetic women. Women with GD-NI were at a significantly increased risk for macrosomia (aOR1.53), decreased risk for their baby to die before their first birthday (aOR 0.41) and no difference in risk for preterm birth in reference to non-diabetic women.
Diabetes is associated with the poor birth outcomes. Clinical management of diabetes during pregnancy and healthy lifestyle behaviors before pregnancy can reduce the risk for diabetes and poor birth outcomes.
Core Tip: This study investigated the differences in birth outcomes by timing of diabetes (pre-gestational and gestational) status and insulin use. The odds for preterm birth (PTB) and macrosomia were the most increased (187% and 201%, respectively) among women with insulin-dependent pre-pregnancy diabetes, followed by non-insulin dependent prepregnancy diabetes (77% and 112%, respectively) in comparison with women without diabetes. Women with insulin dependent gestational diabetes were also at an increased risk for PTB and macrosomia (73% and 95%, respectively). Clinical management of diabetes during pregnancy and healthy lifestyle behaviors before pregnancy can reduce the risk for diabetes and poor birth outcomes.
