Gestational diabetes in a multiethnic population of Spain: clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes

AIMS

To compare clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes between immigrant and Spanish women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a multiethnic population of Barcelona and to identify factors independently associated with the development of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants.

METHODS

Prospective study of women with GDM from five ethnic groups (Caucasian, South-Central Asian, Latin American, East Asian and Moroccan) at a single institution in Barcelona between 2004 and 2011. Maternal, gestational and newborn characteristics were recorded.

RESULTS

The cohort included 456 patients. In univariate analyses, Moroccan women had more frequently a pre-gestational body mass index (BMI)>25 kg/m(2) (76.4%, P=0.012), while East Asian women had lower BMI (23.41 ± 2.79 kg/m(2), P<0.001), less need for insulin therapy (14.3%, P=0.013) and the highest rate of spontaneous labor (69.8%, P=0.014) and eutocic delivery (63.8%, P=0.032). Also, Latin American women had a higher rate of Cesarean section (52.9%, P<0.001) and LGA infants (28.6%, P=0.004), and their newborns had lower umbilical cord pH (7.23 ± 0.06, P=0.005) and Apgar scores (9 [4-10], P<0.01) and a higher incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia (51.4%, P=0.045). Logistic regression analysis identified pre-gestational BMI (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.09-1.27), pregnancy weight gain (OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.1-1.28) and insulin use during gestation (OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.09-4.82) as predictors of LGA infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant ethnic differences were found in clinical characteristics and perinatal outcomes of women with GDM. Latin American women had a higher frequency of adverse perinatal outcomes. Pregestational BMI, pregnancy weight gain and insulin use during pregnancy were independent predictors of LGA.

A prospective evaluation of neonatal hypoglycaemia in infants of women with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To analyse first-day-of-life glucose levels in infants of women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and the influence of maternal, gestational and peripartum factors on the development of neonatal hypoglycaemia.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study including newborns of GDM mothers. Capillary blood glucose (CBG) was measured serially on the first day of life. CBG values were defined as normal (≥ 2.5 mmol/l), mild hypoglycaemia (2.2-2.4 mmol/l), moderate hypoglycaemia (1.6-2.1 mmol/l) and severe hypoglycaemia (<1.6 mmol/l).

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety infants were included: 23 (12.1%) presented mild, 20 (10.5%) moderate and only 5 (2.6%) severe hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemic infants were more frequently large-for-gestational-age (29.3% vs 11.3%, p=0.003), had lower umbilical cord pH (7.28 vs 7.31, p=0.03) and their mothers had more frequently been hyperglycaemic during labour (18.8% vs 8.5%, p=0.04). In multivariate analysis Pakistani origin (OR: 2.94; 95% CI: 1.14-7.55) and umbilical cord venous pH (OR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.261-0.99) were significantly and independently associated with hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild and moderate neonatal hypoglycaemias were common although severe episodes were unusual in infants of women with GDM. Hypoglycaemia is mainly influenced by ethnicity and cord blood pH, although maternal peripartum glycaemic control and large-for-gestational-age condition may also play a role.