La. Bracero et al., EFFECT OF GENDER ON PERINATAL OUTCOME IN PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED BY DIABETES, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 41(1), 1996, pp. 10-14
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.