LAUSR

AIMS To evaluate the impact of assisted reproductive technology (ART) on the risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) in single pregnancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively collected clinical and anthropometric data of219ART- and 256 age- and BMI-matched women with spontaneous conception (SC) screened for GDM. Primary outcome was to evaluate GDM prevalence in ART women. RESULTS There were no differences in age, BMI, and family history of diabetes in the two groups of women. ART-women were more frequently primiparous, while prevalence of previous GDM was higher in SC-women. The prevalence of GDM in the whole cohort was 36.1% and was higher in ART-women (52.3% vs. 23.4%; P<0.0001). In the whole cohort, on multivariate analysis, family history of diabetes (OR 1.67; 95%CI: 1.03-2.69), previous GDM (OR 7.05; 95%CI: 2.92-17.04), pre-pregnancy obesity (OR 2.72; 95%CI 1.21-6.13) and ART (OR 4.14; 95%CI 2.65-6.48) were independent risk factors for GDM. Among ART-women age over 40 years was associated to GDM. Preterm delivery was more common in ART-women; gestational week at delivery, birth weight, ponderal index and Apgar score were lower in ART-women compared to SC-women, both in the whole cohort and in GDM women. CONCLUSIONS Among women undergoing ART treatment, at least one in two develops GDM. ART appears to be an independent risk factor for GDM in single pregnancies particularly above the age of 40.ART treatment seems to be associated with an increased rate of preterm delivery and lower neonatal birth weight and Apgar score, especially in GDM women. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.