Effect of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus on neurodevelopment in late preterm infants at the corrected age of 12 months

Previous studies have examined the associations of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, the associations between GDM and other neurodevelopmental domains, such as the motor and language, are rarely studied. The primary objective of this study was to examine the effect of maternal GDM on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of late preterm infants at the corrected age of 12 months. This prospective cohort study included 205 late preterm infants born between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023 in Jiangsu, China. These infants were grouped according to whether their mothers had GDM, and their neurodevelopment was assessed using the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) at 3, 6, and 12 months of corrected age. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the differences in various parameters between the two groups. A total of 205 infants were enrolled in the study, with 61 in the GDM group and 144 in the non-GDM group. At the corrected age of 3 and 6 months, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, language, and social-emotional response, nor in rates of abnormal scores, between the GDM and non-GDM groups. However, at the corrected age of 12 months, the GDM group exhibited significantly lower scores in gross motor function and fine motor function compared to the non-GDM group (P < 0.05), while the abnormal rate of language was significantly lower in the GDM group (P < 0.05). Maternal GDM may adversely affect gross motor, fine motor, and language development in late preterm infants at the corrected age of 12 months. These findings highlight the importance of early monitoring and intervention for neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms and long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories associated with maternal GDM, providing additional insights for clinical practice and public health strategies.