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Infants of diabetic mothers: epidemiology, pathophysiology, fetal heartassessment, structural and functional heart consequences: A narrative review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2025

Ayed A. Shati
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Syed E. Mahmood*
Affiliation:
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Youssef A. Alqahtani
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Saleh M. Al-Qahtani
Affiliation:
Department of Child Health, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Tajudeen M. Bushari
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology Department, Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Cardiac Centre, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia
Ashib Parvez
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, F.H. Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
*
Corresponding author: Syed E. Mahmood; Email: [email protected]

Abstract

Infants of diabetic mothers are neonates born to a woman who had periodic hyperglycaemia during pregnancy. Consequently, infants of diabetic mothers are at higher risks of illness besides morbidity and mortality due to teratogenic effects on the fetal cardiovascular system, causing most frequent CHDs. The primary purpose of this review is to present, on this topic, a better-comprehended review covering pertinent material and data to be informed of severe risks to a newborn’s cardiac system and function. These conditions can affect maternal, fetal, neonatal, and future adult health. Further research should be addressed towards the early detection of diabetes, its magnitude, and management. Immediate interventions should be proposed to lessen the diabetes burden and its adversative effects during the prenatal period.

Type
Review
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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