# Maternal Pre-Pregnancy Glycemic Status and Growth Delay in Korean Children Aged 18–36 Months: A Population-Based Study

## TL;DR

This study finds that mothers with high blood sugar before pregnancy are more likely to have children with growth delays and sensory issues.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying specific associations between pre-pregnancy glycemic status and child growth and sensory development using nationwide data.

## Key findings

- Children of mothers with diabetes or impaired glucose had higher growth delay risks.
- Maternal hyperglycemia was linked to visual and auditory development issues in offspring.
- Growth delay prevalence was highest for head circumference at 4.3%.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the association between maternal pre-pregnancy glycemic status and growth delay in offspring using nationwide health screening data. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 258,367 mother–child dyads born between 2014 and 2021 was analyzed. Maternal glycemic status was categorized as normal (<100 mg/dL), impaired fasting glucose (IFG, 100–125 mg/dL), or diabetes mellitus (DM, ≥126 mg/dL). Growth delay was defined as measurements below the 10th percentile of height, weight, and head circumference at 18–24 and 30–36 months. Visual and auditory development were assessed using caregiver questionnaires. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied, and weighted relative risks (RRs) were estimated. Results: The prevalence of growth delay was 3.5% for height, 3.8% for weight, and 4.3% for head circumference; visual and auditory problems were reported in 1.2% and 8.2% of children, respectively. Both the DM (1.2%) and IFG (9.3%) groups showed increased risks of growth delay across both age periods. Maternal hyperglycemia was also associated with offspring’s visual and auditory development, with age- and period-specific differences observed. Conclusions: Maternal pre-pregnancy glycemic status was significantly associated with delayed growth in Korean children aged 18–36 months. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing maternal glycemic control prior to pregnancy for favorable child developmental outcomes.