CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN INFANTS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS (PEDIATRICS HOSPITAL BASED STUDY)

Mahdi, Esraa Ali Mathboob; M. Hanudi, Basil

doi:10.52573/ipmj.2025.162933

	CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN INFANTS OF DIABETIC MOTHERS (PEDIATRICS HOSPITAL BASED STUDY)
Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal
Volume 25, Issue 3, July 2026, Pages 264-272 PDF (992.36 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.52573/ipmj.2025.162933
Authors
Esraa Ali Mathboob Mahdi^* ¹; Basil M. Hanudi²
¹Al-Muthanna health directorate. Al-Muthanna, Iraq.
²College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Abstract
Background: Infants born to diabetic mothers are at elevated risk for neonatal complications, including metabolic, hematologic, respiratory, cardiac, and neurological disorders. Notably, insulin-dependent diabetes increases the likelihood of congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Aim: This study aimed to determine the incidence and associated factors of cardiac complications among neonates born to diabetic mothers and to identify the prevalent patterns of congenital heart defects in this population. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a 10-month period (July 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021) at the Neonatal Care Unit of Child’s Central Teaching Hospital. The study included 100 neonates admitted within the first 24 hours of life, all born to mothers with either gestational or pregestational diabetes. Each neonate underwent echocardiographic evaluation by a pediatric cardiologist within 72 hours of birth. Results: Congenital heart disease was identified in 39% of the neonates. The most frequently observed cardiac anomaly was atrial septal defect (ASD). CHD incidence was significantly associated with male gender, prematurity, macrosomia, and maternal pregestational diabetes, especially among mothers using insulin or combined insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents. Poor maternal glycemic control and bleeding during pregnancy also showed a strong correlation with neonatal CHDs. Conclusion: The study highlights a high prevalence of congenital heart diseases among neonates born to diabetic mothers, with ASD being the most common defect. Key neonatal risk factors include male sex, prematurity, and overweight status, while significant maternal risk factors include pregestational diabetes, insulin-based treatment, poor glycemic control, and antenatal bleeding.
Keywords
Congenital heart disease; gestational diabetes; neonate; prevalence; Iraq

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