EFFECT OF GENDER ON PERINATAL OUTCOME IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY DIABETES

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a gender-relat ed difference in the morbidity and mortality of infants of diabetic mo thers. We also wanted to identify risk factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcome, and create a perinatal morbidity index. We perform ed a retrospective review of 107 women whose pregnancies were singleto n and complicated by diabetes. The subjects were divided according to the gender of the infant. The morbidity, mortality and confounding var iables between the two groups were compared. Logistic regression analy sis was used to identify the independent factors associated with an ad verse pregnancy outcome. The male group (n = 62) had higher morbidity than the female group (n = 45). This was due to a higher incidence of hypoglycemia (relative risk = 3.9, 95% CI 1.2-12.5, p = 0.011) and nee d to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit 2 or more days (relative risk = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-2.9, p = 0.015). There was one female stillbir th due to an episode of ketoacidosis in the mother. Male gender (relat ive risk = 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.7, p = 0.002) was one of three independen t predictors of poor outcome. There is a male disadvantage in infants of diabetic mothers with regards to perinatal morbidity. Advanced Whit e's classification, male gender, and third trimester mean glucose grea ter than or equal to 110 mg% identify the pregnancies at risk for diab etes-related morbidity.