Morbidities among Very Low Birth Weight and Very Preterm Infants of Diabetic Mothers: A Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study

Maternal diabetes, whether chronic or gestational, is linked to a higher likelihood of complications in very low birth weight (VLBW) and very preterm (VPT) newborns. These newborns are especially susceptible to respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and other complications that occur during infancy.

This study aimed to assess the perinatal outcomes of VLBW and VPT infants born to mothers with diabetes. The main goal was to examine the neonatal problems and their correlations with maternal and neonatal variables. This study was a prospective, observational study carried out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Baghdad Teaching Hospital. A cohort of 150 VLBW and VPT neonates whose mothers had diabetes were included. An analysis was conducted on maternal variables, including type of diabetes, hypertension, prenatal steroid use, and mode of delivery, in conjunction with neonatal outcomes such as RDS, BPD, NEC, and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). The statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square tests and correlation coefficients.

Among the 150 neonates, an elevated occurrence of RDS (139, 92.7%) and BPD (51, 34%) was seen in VLBW and VPT infants born to mothers with diabetes. The prevalence of NEC was 49 (32.7%), but IVH and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were less frequent diagnoses. No statistically significant correlations were found between the method of delivery and RDS or between maternal diabetes and neonatal APGAR scores.

Maternal diabetes greatly increases the risk of complications in VLBW and VPT infants. The optimization of maternal glycemic control and the provision of personalized newborn care are crucial for improving outcomes in this high-risk population.