Maternal Weight tied to Increased Atopy and Asthma Risk in kids of Women at Risk for Gestational Diabetes: Study

The study, conducted with a focus on children aged 1 to 5 years, found that among pregnant women at risk for GDM, maternal weight-related factors play a significant role in the development of atopic diseases, regardless of the GDM diagnosis. The findings published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth suggest that in addition to focusing on women with GDM, it is crucial to also pay attention to those at risk who do not develop the condition, as their children appear to be at a higher risk for atopic diseases.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder during pregnancy and is linked to negative outcomes in offspring, including an increased risk of developing atopic diseases in early childhood. However, research focusing specifically on women at risk for GDM—some of whom develop the condition while others do not—is limited. Additionally, there is a lack of information regarding adverse health outcomes in the children of these women. To fill this knowledge gap, Anu Bärenson, Tartu University Hospital, Children´s Clinic, Tartu, Estonia, and colleagues aimed to examine how various maternal health characteristics are associated with the development of these disorders in their offspring.

The follow-up study of the GDS took place at Tartu University Hospital in Estonia from 2014 to 2020 and involved 223 mother-child pairs. All participating women had at least one risk factor for GDM, although only some went on to develop the condition. Information regarding the relevant diagnoses was collected from Electronic Health Records. Allergen-specific IgE levels in the children’s serum were measured using ImmunoCAP Phadiatop Infant, with values of 0.35 kU/l or higher deemed positive. Statistical analysis was conducted using RStudio software (version 4.3.0).

The study led to the following findings:

• Only the cases of GDM requiring using antidiabetic medications were associated with the development of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis at two years of age (aOR 4.68).
• Maternal obesity (BMI > 30) was associated with offspring´s asthma or allergic rhinitis diagnosis at two years of age (aOR 3.15).
• Maternal abnormal weight gain during pregnancy was associated with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis at five years of age (aOR 2.76).

The findings suggest that, in addition to women diagnosed with GDM who require antidiabetic medications, maternal weight-related factors play a significant role in the development of atopic and allergic diseases in the children of pregnant women at risk for GDM, irrespective of whether they actually develop the condition.

"Therefore, it is crucial to focus not only on mothers with GDM but also on those at risk who do not go on to develop it, as their children seem to face an even higher risk of allergic diseases," they concluded.

Reference:

Bärenson, A., Tagoma, A., Varendi, H. et al. Atopy and asthma in children born to mothers at risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a follow-up study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 24, 610 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06819-y