A review of gestational diabetes mellitus management, risk factors, maternal and neonatal outcomes in two major maternity hospitals in the United Arab Emirates: A report from Dubai

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Abdulrahman, Mahera^{a; *} | Tabatabaei, Zainabsadat^b | Maqbool, Sadia^c | Hafidh, Khadija^d | Husain, Zahra SM^b | Al Raeesi, Fatima Hussain^c | Abo Sada, Nour Mazen^b | Akbar, Madiha^c | Hubaishi, Nawal Mahmood^b | Tahlak, Muna Abdul Razzaq^c | Carrick, Frederick Robert^{e; f; g}

Affiliations: [a] Health Informatics & Smart Health Department, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [b] Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [c] Latifa Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [d] Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | [e] University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL USA | [f] Adjunct Professor MGH Institute for Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA | [g] Centre for Mental Health Research in Association with University of Cambridge, Cambridge UK

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Mahera Abdulrahman, Clinical Audit & Control Department, Health Regulation Sector, Dubai Health Authority, United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box: 88905, Dubai, UAE. Tel.: +9714 219 1954; Fax: +9714 311 3189; E-mail: marad@dha.gov.ae.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES:This study was conducted in order to explore and analyze the status of gestational diabetes (GDM) amongst pregnant women in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE); a country with high prevalence of diabetes. We aimed to describe GDM-associated risk factors and clinical outcomes of pregnant women and their neonates. Our objective was to contribute to the broader literature on reproductive health disparities and to inform efforts to improve GDM care at our region. METHODS:Chart review of case records were used to collect data on both maternal and neonatal parameters and outcomes during the specified study period from two main maternity hospitals in Dubai. RESULTS:UAE national women with GDM were more prone to be obese or overweight compared to non-UAE women (p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001 respectively). In addition, UAE national women with GDM had higher history of GDM in previous pregnancies (p < 0.0001) and more family history of diabetes (p < 0.0001).The neonate admission into NICU was significantly associated with cesarean section (p < 0.0001), twins (p < 0.0001), preeclampsia (p = 0.02), receiving MgSO4 (p = 0.02), birth weight less than 2500 g (p < 0.0001), low Apgar scores (p < 0.0001), baby with congenital anomaly (p < 0.0001), and neonatal hypoglycemia (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Our results demonstrate that pregnant women with GDM who are UAE nationals and have higher parity need to be under special attention during their pregnancy in order to improve both maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes, women health, neonatal outcome, United Arab Emirates

DOI: 10.3233/NPM-200410

Journal: Journal of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 555-562, 2020