Maternal Diabetes and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants Born Before 29 Weeks’ Gestation
Maternal Diabetes and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants Born Before 29 Weeks’ Gestation

Maternal Diabetes and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants Born Before 29 Weeks’ Gestation

J Pediatr. 2024 Sep 19:114319. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114319. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born at <29 weeks’ gestation and exposed to diabetes in pregnancy with those unexposed.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study using the Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) and Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network (CNFUN) databases. Infants born <29 weeks’ gestation and admitted to a level 3 NICU from 2009 through 2018 who had neurodevelopmental assessments at 18 to 24 months corrected age (CA) were eligible. The two primary outcomes were: i) Neurodevelopmental Impairment (NDI) (≥1 of Bayley-III scores < 85 in any domain, cerebral palsy, or vision or hearing impairment); and ii) significant NDI (sNDI) (≥1 of Bayley-III scores < 70 in any domain, cerebral palsy GMFCS ≥ 3, bilateral blindness, or need for hearing aids or cochlear implants). Secondary outcomes were the individual components of NDI and sNDI. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs were calculated to determine outcomes between groups.

RESULTS: Of 13,988 eligible infants, 55% attended neurodevelopmental follow-up assessments. Infants exposed to diabetes had increased odds of NDI compared with those unexposed (aOR 1.09 (95% CI 1.08-1.54); there was no difference in sNDI (aOR 1.07 (95% CI 0.84-1.36). Language and motor delays were more common in those exposed to maternal diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates of NDI, language, or motor delays were present in infants born at < 29 weeks’ gestation exposed to diabetes in utero. Future research is needed to determine the etiology and clinical significance of these findings.

PMID:39306321 | DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114319