Gestational diabetes mellitus does not increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in twin pregnancies

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on maternal and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of both twin and singleton pregnancies, which delivered in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. The twin pregnancies were divided into two groups: those with (GDM-T, n=51) and without GDM (non-GDM-T, n=130), which were matched by maternal age and delivery time (within one month) in a ratio of 1∶2 among singleton pregnancies with (GDM-S, n=102) and without GDM (non-GDM-S, n=102), respectively. The differences of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes among these four groups were examined. The overall assessment of pregnancy outcomes was completed using Delphi method. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way analysis of variance, t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, rank test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results (1) When compared to GDM-S and non-GDM-S group respectively, less women conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technology, higher proportion of women underwent and gestational age at delivery tend to be earlier in GDM-T and non-GDM-T group (all P 0.01). Similarly, no significant difference was found in prenatal glycosylated hemoglobin value between GDM-T and GDM-S group (P>0.01). (2) There was no significant difference in the incidences of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, anemia, premature rupture of membranes, oligohydramnios, placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage, asphyxia neonatorum, small for gestational age, hypoglycemia of newborn, hyperbilirubinemia of newborn and perinatal death between GDM-T group and the other three groups (all P>0.01) . Higher incidences of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage were shown in the GDM-T group than in the GDM-S and non-GDM-S groups, respectively (both P 0.01). (3) The overall assessment of pregnancy outcomes did not show any difference between GDM-T group and the other three groups (χ2=6.707, P>0.01). However, the score for fetal outcomes in the GDM-T group was higher than in the GDM-S and non-GDM-S group, but lower than in non-GDM-T group [M(Q)=1.0(2.3), 0.0(3.0), 0.0(0.0), 1.0(2.8) score, χ2=122.818, P<0.01]. Conclusions GDM does not increase the risk of adverse pregnant outcomes in twin pregnancies. Key words: Diabetes, gestational; Pregnancy, twin; Pregnancy outcome