Maternal BMI and HDL as predictors of pregnancy outcome in women with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with increased risks of maternal as well as foetal complications.

Methods: Retrospective data on 96 women and their 96 newborns were anonymously statistically analysed to assess pregnancies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) women managed in our hospital in past nine years. The outcomes of the neonates were divided into three categories according to the clinical status, presence of congenital abnormalities and infant's treatment.

Results: We found out that the outcome of newborn infants associated with maternal HbA1c before gestation as well as during the whole course of pregnancy (p < 0.02 for all). Surprisingly, neonatal outcome was strongly associated with the maternal BMI (p < 0.05). In our model, a lowering of BMI by one grade led to an 18% increase in the chance that the newborn will have no health problems. We did not observe an important worsening of chronic diabetic complications in mothers; however, regarding maternal clinical status, we found that preeclampsia occurrence was strongly and independently connected to HDL level (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that lower pregestational BMI could substantially improve T1D mothers' pregnancy outcome. Lower HDL levels in T1D mothers during pregnancy correlate with higher risk of preeclampsia development.

Keywords: BMI; HDL; preeclampsia; pregnancy outcome; type 1 diabetes.