Association of Left Ventricular Mass with Hospital Length of Stay and Glucose Infusion Needs in Infants of Diabetic Mothers.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the relationship between postnatal left ventricular mass (LVM) z-score and clinical outcomes among infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs).

STUDY

DESIGN

We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants born to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus. The primary predictor was postnatal LVM z-score; the primary outcome was hospital length of stay (LOS). A secondary outcome was maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR) during hospitalization.

RESULTS

There were 112 infants who met the inclusion criteria (52% male). After multiple linear regression, there was a weak relationship between LVM z-score and LOS (R2 = 0.055; p = 0.002); the relationship between LVM z-score and maximum GIR was somewhat stronger (R2 = 0.205, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

LVM measured by echocardiography during the first week of life is weakly but independently associated with total LOS and maximum GIR among infants born to mothers with pregestational diabetes mellitus. The impact of left ventricular hypertrophy in IDMs on clinical outcomes should be considered in clinical context.

KEY POINTS: · Increased LVM is marginally associated with longer LOS in IDMs.. · Elevated LVM is linked to higher maximum GIR in IDMs.. · Higher LVM may reflect illness severity in IDMs..