Gestational diabetes & diabetes in pregnancy
Association between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 observational studies comprising 56·1 million pregnancies
Pooled result · Any neurodevelopmental disorder (studies adjusting for multiple confounders, n=98, 49%)Result — go to the resultRisk ratio 1.28 95% CI 1.24–1.31Authors' conclusion
Maternal diabetes is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and impaired neurodevelopmental performance in children. Further high-quality research is needed to establish causality and clarify the associations between specific types of diabetes and the full spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Study context
- Population
- Children born to mothers with diabetes; 110 (54%) studies of gestational diabetes, 80 (40%) of pre-gestational diabetes; 169 (84%) studies of children and adolescents aged up to 18 years202 studies, mother-child pairs
- Participants
- 56,082,462 children
- Comparison
- Maternal diabetes vs no maternal diabetes
- Outcome
- Neurodevelopmental disorders as defined by DSM (Fifth Edition) and International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models, prospectively registered
- Random-effects models
- Prospectively registered
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Any neurodevelopmental disorder (studies adjusting for multiple confounders, n=98, 49%)
Risk ratio
1.28
95% CI 1.24–1.31
Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed
risk ratio 1.28 (95% CI 1.24–1.31)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, autism spectrum disorder 1.25 (CI 1.20–1.31) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder 1.30 (CI 1.24–1.37) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, intellectual disability 1.32 (CI 1.18–1.47) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, specific developmental disorders 1.27 (CI 1.17–1.37) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, communication disorder 1.20 (CI 1.11–1.28) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, motor disorder 1.17 (CI 1.10–1.26) | |
| Specific neurodevelopmental disorders (studies adjusting for multiple confounders)Maternal diabetesvs Unexposed | risk ratio, learning disorder 1.16 (CI 1.06–1.26) | |
| 0.512Ratio (log scale) |
Neurodevelopmental disorders by diabetes type (pre-gestational vs gestational)
- Pre-gestational diabetes, risk ratio
- 1.39 (1.34-1.44) (95% CI)
- Gestational diabetes, risk ratio
- 1.18 (1.14-1.23) (95% CI)
- Subgroup difference
- P < 0.0001
- Pre-gestational diabetes more strongly associated with most neurodevelopmental disorders than GDM
Studies adjusting for at least one key confounder
- Maternal diabetes associated with increased risks of all types of neurodevelopmental disorders and lower intelligence and psychomotor scores
Original publication
Association between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 observational studies comprising 56·1 million pregnancies. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Published 7 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →