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Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes among preterm infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background

The long-term effects of maternal diabetes on preterm infant neurodevelopment are unknown. This study aims to determine if there was an increased likelihood of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants born to mothers with diabetes.

Materials and methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on preterm infants with neurodevelopmental evaluations at 18–36 months corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Third edition.

Results

680 former preterm infants were evaluated. There was no difference in cognitive, language, and motor scores. Infants born to diabetic mothers with AMA were significantly different in cognitive (adjusted-β (a-β),−7.24 [95%CI, −11.719 to −2.769]; P = 0.002) and language domains (a-β,−7.783 [95%CI, −13.603 to −1.963]; (P = 0.009).

Discussion

There was no significant difference in neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants exposed to maternal diabetes. Preterm infants born to mothers with diabetes and AMA demonstrated lower cognitive and language scores at 2 years corrected age.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

Jenna Sugar conceived and designed the study, collected the data, drafted the initial manuscript. Trenton G. Lum designed the study, collected the data, performed the analysis, edited the manuscript. Sophie Fertel designed the study, collected the data, edited the manuscript. Rachel Yim designed the study, collected the data edited the manuscript. Ana Morales curated the data, collected the data, edited the manuscript. Debra Poeltler designed the study, performed the analysis, edited the manuscript, provided supervision/oversight. Anup Katheria conceived and designed the study, edited the manuscript, and provided supervision/oversight.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jenna Sugar.

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Competing interests

The authors do not have any other potential conflict of interest to report regarding the study design collection and interpretation of the data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit this paper for publication to the Journal of Perinatology.

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Sugar, J., Lum, T.G., Fertel, S. et al. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes among preterm infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus. J Perinatol 42, 499–502 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01255-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01255-8

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