Pregnancy outcome in immigrant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
Recent studies show adverse outcomes of pregnancy among immigrant women from countries with high diabetes rates. We compared maternal and fetal outcomes in immigrant and Italian women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) followed up at our center. Maternal characteristics considered were age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, frequency of insulin treatment, timing and mode of delivery, and hypertensive disorders; and, for fetal outcome, infants large or small for gestational age, and fetal complications. Pre-pregnancy BMI and HbA1c were higher in immigrant GDM women than in Italians, and more of them were on insulin. No differences in maternal outcome emerged between the two groups. More large for gestational age (LGA) babies were born to immigrant women than to Italians, but no other differences emerged. Apart from newborn LGA, maternal and fetal outcomes were comparable in our immigrant and Italian GDM women. Immigrant GDM women have favourable outcomes if given access to health care and language and cultural barriers are removed.
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
Maria Grazia
MG
Dalfrà
Eugenio
E
Ragazzi
Michela
M
Masin
Barbara
B
Bonsembiante
Chiara
C
Cosma
Antonella
A
Barison
Rosanna
R
Toniato
Domenico
D
Fedele
Annunziata
A
Lapolla
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human