Obstetric outcomes in pregnant women with diabetes versus hypertensive disorders versus both.

OBJECTIVE

To compare obstetrical outcomes in pregnant women with diabetes versus hypertensive disorders versus both.

METHODS

One million patients in the New Jersey Database were analyzed. Of which 6.91% had hypertension, 4.79% had diabetes, and 0.91% had both. Information was derived from a perinatal linked data-set provided by the Maternal Child Health Epidemiology (MCH Epi) Program in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Linking of electronic birth certificates, hospital discharge records for mother and newborn, and infant death certificates for all infants born in New Jersey between the years 1997 and 2005 created the data-set.

RESULTS

Coexistence of hypertension and diabetes increased with advancing maternal age (OR 3.41; CI 3.12-3.72). Among ethnic groups, diabetes was more common in Asians (OR 2.92; CI 2.84-3.00), while hypertension was more common in Blacks (OR 1.49; CI 1.46-1.53). Blacks followed by Asians had a higher risk of being in the combined category. Induction of labor (OR 4.16; CI 3.96-4.38), shoulder dystocia (OR 2.56; CI 2.05-3.19), operative vaginal delivery (OR 3.92; CI 3.29-4.66), cesarean deliveries with no trial of labor (OR 2.54; CI 2.40-2.69) as well as with failed trial of labor (OR 4.09; CI 3.88-4.31) were more common in the combined group. Neonatal outcomes were poor in the combined category, with high rate of preterm deliveries, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions (OR 2.14; CI 2.01-2.28), neonatal seizures (OR 2.30; CI 1.31-4.04), low 5-min APGAR scores (OR 1.78; CI 1.57-2.01), and longer NICU stay (OR 2.30; CI 2.15-2.47).

CONCLUSIONS

Coexistence of hypertension and diabetes was associated with worse obstetric and neonatal outcomes than either alone. This should be emphasized to mothers during prenatal counseling. Further research should focus on interventions to improve morbidity in the combined category.