Associations Between Maternal Characteristics and Doppler Ultrasound Findings in Diabetic Pregnancies with AGA Fetuses

Background: In diabetic pregnancies, maternal hyperglycemia can lead to complications affecting both the mother and fetus. Understanding the associations between maternal characteristics and Doppler ultrasound findings is crucial for managing these pregnancies. This study aims to explore these associations in diabetic pregnancies with appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetuses, focusing on how maternal factors influence Doppler ultrasound results.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study evaluated Doppler ultrasound findings of uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries in diabetic mothers with AGA fetuses at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz from 2018 to 2022. Data were collected from medical records of the patients. Doppler assessments included blood flow velocity waveforms and resistance index calculations. The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to assess the relation between maternal characteristics and Doppler ultrasound findings.Results: The study found that the majority of diabetic mothers with AGA fetuses were over 35 years old, with a high prevalence of obesity. Most Doppler assessments showed normal blood flow patterns, with 97.59% normal in the umbilical artery, 81.90% in the uterine artery, and 93.28% in the middle cerebral artery. Preeclampsia was present in 10% of participants and was significantly associated with abnormal Doppler findings in the umbilical, uterine, and middle cerebral arteries (P<0.05). Abnormal uterine artery Doppler results were linked to higher maternal age and BMI, while abnormal middle cerebral artery results were associated with poor blood sugar control (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that maternal characteristics such as preeclampsia, age, BMI, and blood sugar control significantly influence Doppler ultrasound findings in diabetic pregnancies with AGA fetuses.