Do maternal haemodynamics have a causal influence on treatment for gestational diabetes?

BackgroundArterial stiffening is believed to contribute to the worsening of insulin resistance, and factors which are associated with needing pharmacological treatment of gestational diabetes (GDM), such as maternal obesity or advanced age, are associated with impaired cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy. In this observational study, we aimed to investigate causal relationships between maternal haemodynamics and treatment requirement amongst women with GDM.MethodsWe assessed maternal haemodynamics in women with GDM, comparing those who remained on dietary treatment with those who required pharmacological management. Maternal haemodynamics were assessed using the Arteriograph (R) (TensioMed Ltd, Budapest, Hungary) and the NICOM (R) non-invasive bio-reactance method (Cheetah Medical, Portland, Oregon, USA). A graphical causal inference technique was used for statistical analysis.Results120 women with GDM were included in the analysis. Maternal booking BMI was identified as having a causative influence on treatment requirement, with each unit increase in BMI increasing the odds of needing metformin and/or insulin therapy by 12% [OR 1.12 (1.02 - 1.22)]. The raw values of maternal heart rate (87.6 +/- 11.7 vs. 92.9 +/- 11.90 bpm, p = 0.014) and PWV (7.8 +/- 1.04 vs. 8.4 +/- 1.61 m/s, p = 0.029) were both significantly higher amongst the women requiring pharmacological management, though these relationships did not remain significant in causal logistic regression.ConclusionsMaternal BMI at booking has a causal, rather than simply associational, relationship on the need for pharmacological treatment of GDM. No significant causal relationships were found between maternal haemodynamics and the need for pharmacological treatment. This observational study is the first to examine relationships between maternal haemodynamics and treatment requirement for gestational diabetes (GDM). This is also the first study to demonstrate a causative, rather than simply associational, relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and the need for pharmacological treatment of GDM, with each unit increase in BMI increasing the odds of needing metformin and/or insulin therapy by 12%. Maternal heart rate and pulse wave velocity were significantly higher among women with GDM requiring pharmacological management, but this finding did not remain significant in logistic regression analysis, and no causative relationships between maternal hemodynamics and treatment requirement were identified. Our findings highlight the importance of pre- and peri-conception weight control, but do not support a role for measurement of maternal hemodynamics in the prediction of women who are likely to require pharmacological management of GDM.