Fetal and maternal outcomes in Indo-Asian compared to Caucasian women withdiabetes in pregnancy

Maternal and fetal complications are increased when pregnancy is complicate d by diabetes, and this may be further influenced by racial and cultural di fferences. We examined fetal and maternal outcomes in Indo-Asian and Caucas ian women attending the same antenatal diabetes service to see if there wer e any differences. Women with diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2 and gestati onally-acquired disease) complicating pregnancy, registered at the combined diabetes/antenatal clinic of this University teaching hospital over the pe riod 1990-1998 were included. Fetal outcomes examined were miscarriage <24 weeks, stillbirths, neonatal deaths up to 28 days of life, perinatal mortal ity, congenital malformations and size for gestational age. Maternal outcom es examined were rates of caesarean section and vaginal deliveries, and num ber of pre-term deliveries <37 completed weeks of gestation. Outcomes for I ndo-Asian and Caucasian women were similar, with a take-home baby rate of 9 6% and 92%, respectively. There was no perinatal mortality in Indo-Asian wo men, who were more likely to have a vaginal delivery and less likely to hav e a baby large for gestational age. Pregnancies complicated by type 2 diabe tes in both groups pose the greatest threat to a successful pregnancy outco me. Indo-Asian and Caucasian women attending the same antenatal diabetes se rvice have comparable outcomes. Attendance for pre-pregnancy care needs to be encouraged to combat the high early pregnancy loss and congenital malfor mation rate identified, particularly in those with type 2 disease, irrespec tive of ethnicity.