The impact of gestational diabetes mellitus on neonatal cardiac development.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on neonatal cardiac development.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of full-term newborns admitted in 2024 was conducted. 100 newborns of mothers with GDM (IADPSG criteria) were the GDM group, and 100 of non-GDM mothers were the control group. We compared their birth parameters,echocardiographic indicators and congenital heart disease (CHD) incidence, and analyzed factors related to neonatal interventricular septal (IVS) hypertrophy.

RESULTS

The GDM group had significantly higher birth weight, length and placental weight (P < 0.05); echocardiography showed larger cardiac chambers, great vessels and thicker IVS (P > 0.05); CHD incidence was 2% (vs. 0% in control, P = 0.047). Maternal glycemic indicators and neonatal birth weight were positively correlated with IVS thickness (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GDM adversely affects neonatal cardiac development; routine fetal and postnatal cardiac evaluation is necessary for GDM pregnancies. Further research is needed to clarify mechanisms and establish monitoring strategies.