Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is linked with poor fetal outcomes such as macrosomia, neonatal jaundice, and NICU admission. It is important to know the incidence and predictors of these complications to enhance perinatal care. Objective: To determine the frequency of fetal outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Duration and Place of Study: The study was conducted from August 2024 to January 2025 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. Methodology: A total of 116 pregnant women with GDM, aged 18–40 years and with singleton pregnancies beyond 36 weeks of gestation, were enrolled. GDM was diagnosed based on plasma glucose criteria or documented use of antidiabetic medications. Exclusion criteria included major fetal anomalies, maternal complications, or chronic illnesses. Neonatal outcomes assessed included large for gestational age, macrosomia, NICU admission, and neonatal jaundice. Results: Among 116 women, LGA was observed in 20.70%, macrosomia in 17.20%, NICU admission in 20.70%, and neonatal jaundice in 10.30%. Maternal age and BMI showed no significant association with any fetal outcomes. Hypertensive mothers had significantly lower rates of LGA (p=0.014), while other associations were statistically non-significant. Conclusion: GDM is associated with considerable fetal morbidity. Hypertension may modify certain risks such as fetal overgrowth.
Bibi et al. (Wed,) studied this question.