Assessment of maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosed at the three trimesters of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study in a hospital in Northeast Mexico

TL;DR

This study compared the effects of early, late, and standard screening for gestational diabetes on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a Mexican hospital, finding no significant differences in neonatal outcomes.

Contribution

The study provides evidence that early or late screening for gestational diabetes does not improve neonatal outcomes compared to standard screening.

Findings

Similar proportions of patients were diagnosed with GDM across all three screening times.

Early or late screening did not improve neonatal outcomes compared to standard screening.

Risk factors for GDM included age >30, BMI ≥25, and family history of diabetes.

Abstract

gestational diabetes mellitus is a common complication of pregnancy. Diagnostic tests should be performed between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy; however, studies have shown that early or late screening could provide certain benefits in pregnancy outcomes. The study aimed to determine the impact of performing early or late screening tests for GDM in maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to the standard screening time.

we conducted a cross-sectional study including adult pregnant women with a high risk of GDM. Baseline characteristics, risk factors and differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated (e.g. preeclampsia, infections, birth weight, etc.). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with adverse maternal outcomes and adverse neonatal outcomes.

a total of 803 patients were included, mean gestational age at the end of pregnancy was 37.6+4.4 weeks. 232/803 patients (28.9%) underwent screening in the standard time. A total of 79/232 (34.0%) from those that underwent screening at the standard time were diagnosed with GDM, and 102/286 (35.6%) and 111/285 (38.9%) were diagnosed in the early and late screening times, respectively. Age >30, BMI ≥25, and family history of DM were found as significant risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus in the multivariable logistic regression analyses. Earlier gestational age, and caesarean section were significantly more frequent in women with GDM compared with women without GDM. No significant differences were found in the neonatal outcomes.

our results suggest a similar proportion of patients are diagnosed with GDM when comparing the three screening times and that early or late screening times do not provide any additional benefits on neonatal outcomes.