Early childhood atherosklerotic risk factors in infants of diabetic mothers and children born macrosomic

Objective: The prevalence of diabetes during pregnancy is increasing all over the world and exposure to intrauterine hyperglycemia is presumed to cause a long-term adverse effect on cardiovascular health of children. The aim of this study is to compare the atherosclerosis risk factors and carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement in macrosomic born children with non-diabetic mothers, in children of diabetic mothers and in healthy controls at 8-9 years old. Materials and Methods: 49 diabetic mothers' babies (IDM group) and 13 macrosomic babies (Macrosomia group) born between 2011-2012 at Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Balcalı Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. They were compared with 26 children (Control group) with normal birth weight and healthy mothers. After obtaining the written informed consents of the families, anthropometric measurements for atherosclerosis risk factors, biochemical analysis and ultrasonographic CIMT measurements were performed. Results: There were no significant differences in terms of age, gender, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, laboratory parameters, atherosclerosis risk factors of the groups. Gestational age was lower in the IDM group (p <0.001), and birth weight was higher in the Macrosomic group (p <0.001). High density lipoprotein level of the IDM group was lower than the value of both the Control and Macrosomic groups (p = 0.002, p = 0.003). The duration of breastfeeding and total breastfeeding time in the IDM group were lower than the Control group (both p <0.001) The BMI, skinfold thickness, waist / hip ratio, waist / height ratio were higher in children breastfed for less than 6 months in the IDM group. CIMT of IDM [0.43 ±0,047 (0.34-0.60) and Macrosomic group [0.40 ±, 0.055 (0.33-0.50)] were higher compared to the Control group [0.34 ± 0.047 (0.26-0.45)] (p <0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: In this study, we could not find any significant atherosclerotic risk factors in childhood in IDM and Macrosomic infants. However, CIMT measurements were higher in both these groups. This findings show intrauterine involvement in IDM and Macrosomic groups and these children should be re-evaluated in different age groups. Keywords: Atherosclerosis risk factors, carotid artery intima-media thickness, infant of diabetic mothers, macrosomic baby