Aim: The relationship between maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has long been recognized, but the conclusions of this relationship were non-consistent. We conducted this meta-analysis to explore the association between maternal DM and the risk of neonatal RDS.
Methods: We searched PubMed and Web of Science databases for cohort or case-control studies related to the association of maternal DM and neonatal RDS risk up to 25 August 2018. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by the use of random effect model. Meta-regression was used to explore potential sources of between-study heterogeneity.
Results: A total of 24 studies from 23 available articles were included in this meta-analysis. For the association between maternal DM and the risk of neonatal RDS, the pooled OR was 1.47 (95% CI 1.24-1.74), especially for cohort studies (1.39, 95% CI 1.17-1.65). The pooled OR of the risk of neonatal RDS was 1.57 (95% CI 1.28-1.93) for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 2.66 (95% CI 2.06-3.44) for pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM).
Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that maternal DM, including GDM and PGDM, is linked to an increased risk of neonatal RDS.
Keywords: Epidemiology studies; Maternal diabetes; Meta-analysis; Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.