Smoking during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: To investigate whether maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for developing GDM. METHODS: index was used to quantify it. The studies were evaluated for publication bias. RESULTS: = 27; df=10; p < 0.002. Further subgroup analysis according to maternal smoking status was not performed due to missing data. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence to support an association between maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and the risk for GDM. Universally accepted diagnostic criteria for GDM must be adopted to reduce heterogeneity and clarify the association between smoking and GDM.