Morbidity and psychomotor development of offspring of women with gestational diabetes: a 5-year follow-up

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a risk factor for both mother and her offspring in a short-term (perinatal morbidity) and long-term horizon (postpartum diabetes or foetal programming). Several studies focused at peri/postnatal outcomes of GDM mother ' s offspring, however relatively few (and none in Czech population) were designed as prospective. The aim of the study was to ascertain eventual anthropometric and developmental abnormalities and/or morbidity in offspring of GDM mothers compare to controls in a 5-year follow-up using a parent-reported parameters related to psychomotor development and common paediatric morbidities including a sub-study of offspring of GDM mothers experiencing adverse perinatal outcomes. Methods A 5 year follow up study of offspring of GDM mothers (n = 26) vs those with a normal pregnancy (n = 63). An electronic questionnaire was used to obtain the parameters (such as growth, psychomotor development, vaccination, morbidity history etc.) available to parents from the parent-held infant health record. Data on pregnancy and delivery were available from the previous study. Results Offspring of GDM mothers had delayed psychomotor development in early childhood, but in 5 years of age they seemed to gradually achieve results of a control group. Children with macrosomia had a higher percentile of weight-for-height and were significantly more frequently ill than those with a normal birth weight. Offspring of obese mothers had worse verbal language skills in early childhood and a higher percentile of weight-for-height. Conclusion Maternal gestational diabetes and obesity can be considered an important determinant of postnatal offspring development and health status, which further advocates for broader implementation of preventive strategies.

Automated summary

This study aimed to compare anthropometric and developmental abnormalities and/or morbidity in offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to control offspring. The study found that offspring of GDM mothers had delayed psychomotor development in early childhood, but caught up to the control group by 5 years of age. Children with macrosomia had a higher weight-for-height percentile and were more frequently ill than those with normal birth weight. Offspring of obese mothers had worse verbal language skills in early childhood and a higher weight-for-height percentile.