Open Access

REVIEW

Maternal Diabetes Mellitus and Congenital Heart Diseases: Systematic Review

Roberto Noya Galluzzo¹, Karine Souza Da Correggio¹, Aldo von Wangenheim², Heron Werner³, Nathalie Jeanne Bravo-Valenzuela⁴, Edward Araujo Júnior^5,6,*, Alexandre Sherlley Casimiro Onofre⁷

1 Division of Tocogynecology, University Hospital Polydoro Ernani of São Thiago, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, 88036-800, Brazil
2 Brazilian Institute for Digital Convergence, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil
3 Department of Fetal Medicine, Biodesign Laboratory DASA/PUC, Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900, Brazil
4 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, 21941-617, Brazil
5 Department of Obstetrics, Paulista School of Medicine-Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP), São Paulo, 04039-001, Brazil
6 Discipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul, 09521-160, Brazil
7 Department of Clinical Analyses, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil

* Corresponding Author: Edward Araujo Júnior. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease)

Congenital Heart Disease 2025, 20(1), 89-101. https://doi.org/10.32604/chd.2025.063014

Received 01 January 2025; Accepted 25 February 2025; Issue published 18 March 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic disorder, leads to organ damage due to chronic hyperglycemia with multiple pathogenic processes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses risks to mothers and offspring, increasing the incidence of structural congenital heart disease (CHD) and myocardial hypertrophy in newborns. Objective: This review aimed to examine the association between maternal diabetes mellitus and CHD. Methods: This systematic review used the STROBE and TRIPOD checklists registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024513858). It focused on diagnostic test accuracy using the Munn et al. protocol for systematic assessment, emphasizing the “PIRD”: Population, Index Test, Reference Test, Diagnosis of Interest. This review aimed the following PIRD model question: ‘Does diabetic pregnant woman influence in fetal cardiac malformation?’ using PRISMA 2020 statement. A systematic review was conducted on 19 October 2023 in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), LILACS, and SciELO. Only articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese languages were selected. Results: Seven studies between 2018 and 2023 were selected. The studies differed in terms of the cardiac ultrasound parameters used to assess CHD and diagnose diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. They highlight the importance of fetal echocardiography in detecting CHD prenatally and assessing the impact of diabetes mellitus on fetal cardiac health, recommending proactive care planning and early intervention for better outcomes. Conclusions: The studies highlight the impact of maternal diabetes mellitus, particularly GDM, on fetal cardiac development and support early detection by fetal echocardiography. Standardization and collaboration are essential to refine management and outcomes in high-risk pregnancies.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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