A Retrospective Cohort Study in a University Hospital Evaluating the Effect of Maternal Glucose-Containing Intravenous Fluid in Neonatal Glycemia

Gelinemae G. Malaza, Elaine C. Cunanan

Apr 2019 DOI 10.35460/2546-1621.2018-0020

Introduction

Maternal diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk of fetal and neonatal complications, with neonatal hypoglycemia occurring in 8% to 30% [1]. Neonatal hypoglycemia screening in all newborns from diabetic mothers is mandatory because of its immediate and long-term consequences, having glucose as the primary substrate for the brain [2].

Intravenous fluid (IVF) use prior to delivery provides hydration and caloric supplementation to parturient women and may reduce the duration of labor and cesarian section [3]. It serves to supplement the decreased hepatic supply of glucose during the active phase of labor [4] and provide adequate maternal hydration in the setting of higher metabolic demand [3].

The maternal hyperglycemia-fetal hyperinsulinemia hypothesis proposed by Pedersen [5] in 1952 has been the cornerstone in the pathophysiology of neonatal hypoglycemia. Maternal hyperglycemia during the peripartum period is highly correlated with fetal hyperinsulinemia and consequent neonatal hypoglycemia [4,5,6]. With the interruption of maternal-fetal circulation upon delivery, there is likewise cessation of maternal transfer of glucose. Elevated circulating insulin coupled with a decrease in substrate is one mechanism of hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers [1].

Earlier studies have shown that neonatal hypoglycemia is correlated with the presence of glucose infusion before a cesarian section [7] and maternal intravenous glucose therapy duration, total amount of glucose received, and rate of glucose per hour [8]. Some institutions use intravenous glucose supplementation only when the duration of labor exceeds 8 hours [5], whereas others use glucose infusion with simultaneous insulin infusion or rotating fluid with continuous glucose and non-glucose drip [9]. These aim to maintain maternal capillary plasma glucose within the normal range between 4-7 mmol/L (72-126 mg/dL) [10] since blood glucose elevations within 4 to 6 hours prior to delivery increase the rate of neonatal hypoglycemia [11].

There is no local guideline available on the use of glucose-containing intravenous fluids in the peripartum period. Liberal use of intravenous glucose therapy prior to delivery can cause maternal hyperglycemia. Therefore, it is prudent to implement all measures to prevent such from happening.

This study aims to determine the occurrence of neonatal hypoglycemia with intravenous glucose therapy to parturient women prior to giving birth. Specifically, we sought to determine the significant difference on the amount of glucose infused to the parturient women between neonates who developed hypoglycemia versus those without hypoglycemia, identify the correlation between the glucose infused to the mother prior to delivery and neonatal blood glucose in the first hour of life, and to identify risk factors in the development of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Methodology

Study Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of neonates born from diabetic mothers.

Database Population

Women with diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and their neonates delivered in the University of Santo Tomas Hospital  (USTH) Clinical and Private Divisions from January 1, 2013 to December 15, 2017 were included in the study. This time frame was selected based on the available registry of gestational and pre-gestational diabetes mellitus who delivered at the USTH. The total enumeration method was employed in gathering data. Medical records of patients with maternal age 18 years old and above and with available information on maternal and neonatal characteristics and laboratory data were retrieved, whereas patients with maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus and incomplete records were excluded from the study. Clinical information was divided into maternal and neonatal characteristics. Maternal characteristics included maternal age, gestational week when diabetes was diagnosed, medications for glycemic control, number of hours on nothing per orem (NPO) prior to delivery, and IVF used, its rate, duration and total amount of glucose received prior to delivery. Neonatal characteristics included a method of delivery, gender, maturity testing and birth weight. Maternal laboratory data included capillary blood glucose levels while on NPO within 6 hours prior to delivery. Neonatal laboratory data included heelstick glucose determination results within the first 24 hours of life. Glucose level less than the 10th percentile (2.2 mmol/L or 39.6 mg/dL) on the first day of life [5] was grouped under neonatal hypoglycemia whereas those who did not fulfill this criterion were grouped under without neonatal hypoglycemia.

Data Management and Statistical Analysis

Data were encoded into the computer using the Microsoft® Excel software. Frequencies were reported as percentages. Prospective risk factors were grouped into maternal glycemic influence and other risk factors. Categorical variables such as maternal intravenous glucose and insulin use, method of delivery, and offspring gender and symmetry were reported as percentage whereas numerical variables such as amount of glucose infused per hour, total glucose infused, maternal blood glucose, maternal age, gestational week, maturity testing, and neonatal birth weight were reported as mean ± standard deviation. Numerical variables were compared using student t-test while categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Pearson correlation was done to determine the association between neonatal glucose on the first hour of life versus grams of glucose infused per hour and total glucose infused on the mother. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

A total of 123 infants of diabetic mothers were reviewed and 109 were included in the study. Of these, 105 were delivered as singleton presentations and 4 were from twin pregnancies. Neonatal hypoglycemia was present in 14.68% (N=16) of the infants of diabetic mothers. The use of intravenous glucose therapy was employed in 95.41% (N=104). Insulin for maternal glycemic control was used in 28.9% (31 of 107 mothers) and was not statistically significant between those whose offsprings developed neonatal hypoglycemia and those without hypoglycemia.

Comparing the risk factors as to maternal glycemic influence (Table 1), there was a higher amount of glucose infused to the mothers whose offspring developed hypoglycemia compared to those without hypoglycemia. The latest maternal capillary blood glucose was also higher in the group with neonatal hypoglycemia. Statistically, these did not demonstrate a significant difference. The rate of glucose infusion and frequency of maternal insulin use were similar between the two groups.

As to the other risks that may influence the development of neonatal hypoglycemia (Table 2), the maternal age, gestational week at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, method of delivery, offspring gender, maturity testing, and neonatal birthweight and symmetry did not show significant differences as well. Notably, among neonates with hypoglycemia, there were more cesarian deliveries and more male offsprings delivered.

Linear correlation was not evident when the total glucose infused was compared to the neonatal glucose in the first hour of life (r=0.0643, p-value = 0.5065). Similarly, the rate of intravenous glucose infusion did not show linear correlation with neonatal glucose in the first hour of life.

Comparing the maternal blood glucose within 6 hours prior to delivery in neonates who developed hypoglycemia versus those without hypoglycemia, there is a higher trend of maternal capillary blood glucose in those whose neonates developed hypoglycemia and this showed statistical significance with a p-value of 0.0072.

Discussion

Long-term neurodevelopmental dysfunction has been associated with hypoglycemic neonates [14], hence it is imperative to implement all measures to prevent its occurrence. A systematic review of 16 articles categorized the risk factors of neonatal hypoglycemia into infant-related and mother-related [1]. Infant-related significant risk factors were small and large for gestational age (LGA), disproportionately LGA, prematurity, lower cord blood glucose and male gender. Mother-related significant risk factors include maternal hyperglycemia, diabetes diagnosed prior to 28 weeks of gestation, pre-pregnancy pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, maternal diabetes type and glycosylated hemoglobin [1].

In this study, the amount and rate of maternal intravenous glucose administration did not correlate with the development of neonatal hypoglycemia. Likewise, other maternal and infant-related risk factors previously established were not evident in this study. Despite that, there is a significant difference of maternal capillary blood glucose within 6 hours prior to delivery between those whose offsprings developed neonatal hypoglycemia versus those without hypoglycemia, the explanation of which is challenging to elucidate being limited by the retrospective nature of this study.

Moreover, in this study, the average glucose infusion was at 6g/hr with median glucose infused at 18g. In comparison to a previous study by Mendiola et al. [15], it required a glucose infusion of 20g/hr and median amount of 32.5g glucose infused to effect neonatal hypoglycemia.

Hyperinsulinemia, being the cause of hypoglycemia, was demonstrated in a study by Milner and Hales [17], wherein umbilical cord plasma insulin levels increased with administration of glucose before delivery. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation with maternal blood glucose and fetal plasma insulin concentration which reached a mean concentration three times that of control. Although this was not evaluated in our study due to the unavailability of data on fetal insulin levels, this can be included in future studies for further evaluation.

In conclusion, based on this study, routine administration of glucose-containing IVF did not influence the incidence of hypoglycemia in neonates born from diabetic mothers. It is recommended however that further prospective studies be conducted to ascertain this relationship.

 

Conflict of Interest

There is no potential conflict of interest of authors that could have inappropriately influenced research and publication of the manuscript.

Acknowledgment

We thank the UST Section of Endocrinology for all the support they have given and the Medical Records Section of the UST Hospital for accommodating.

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