Poorer perinatal outcome in male newborns of women with pregestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims:   To assess perinatal outcome in women with pregestational diabetes mellitus according to the sex of the fetus.

Methods:   A retrospective review of all singleton pregnancies of women with pregestational diabetes progressing to a gestational age of 22 weeks or more who attended the diabetes and pregnancy clinic from 1981 to 2006 (n=455). We compared maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes (perinatal mortality, major congenital malformations, small and large for gestational age newborns, preterm birth and a composite of the former) according to the sex of the fetus. A logistic regression analysis was performed using the composite perinatal outcome as the dependent variable and all maternal variables and sex of fetus as potential predictors.

Results:   Maternal characteristics did not differ in mothers of male and female newborns. In the whole cohort, the composite perinatal outcome was significantly higher in male fetuses; adjusted OR 1.61 (95% CI 1.04-2.50).

Conclusions:   In women with pregestational diabetes, perinatal outcome was poorer in male newborns despite similar maternal characteristics.