Gestational diabetes & diabetes in pregnancy

Treatment Versus Observation in Early Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

J Clin Endocrinol MetabPublished Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

Authors' conclusion

The SRM demonstrates early intervention does not improve most pregnancy outcomes, except NRD. Sensitivity analysis, excluding the lifestyle-only study, additionally revealed a reduction in macrosomia. The findings must be interpreted cautiously due to the variability in study designs. Replication in well-designed multicenter trials is required before clinical application.

Study context

Population
Pregnancies with early GDM (elevated glucose not meeting overt diabetes criteria before 20 weeks gestation)
Participants
4,427 pregnancies7 randomized controlled trial (RCTs)
Comparison
Early treatment vs observation for early GDM
Outcome
Neonatal: Large-for-gestational age (LGA) and macrosomia; maternal: pregnancy-related hypertension
Methodological detailsStudies differed in timing and methods of inclusion
  • Studies differed in timing and methods of inclusion

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

LGA, macrosomia, pregnancy-related hypertension
Each group vs observationEstimate (95% CI)P value
Early treatment
OR (LGA) 0.84(0.53–1.32)
P = 0.44
Early treatment
OR (macrosomia) 0.68(0.43–1.06)
P = 0.09
Early treatment
OR (pregnancy-related hypertension) 1.04(0.68–1.57)
P = 0.87

Further pooled results

Neonatal respiratory distress (NRD)

NRD significantly reduced in the treatment arm, OR
0.52 (0.34-0.80; P = .003) (95% CI; P)
  • Only secondary outcome significantly reduced

Other secondary outcomes (NICU admission, small-for-gestational age, cord-blood C-peptide ≥90th percentile, neonatal hypoglycemia, cesarean section (CS), emergency CS, labor induction, preeclampsia, preterm birth)

Not significantly reduced by early treatment

Macrosomia, sensitivity analysis omitting the lifestyle-only study

Lower risk of macrosomia with early intervention, OR
0.55 (0.34-0.91; P = .02) (95% CI; P)
  • Sensitivity analysis

Original publication

Treatment Versus Observation in Early Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 17 December 2024. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgae878

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