Study links maternal diabetes to severe retinopathy of prematurity risk

In-utero exposure to maternal type 2 diabetes (DM2) significantly increases the risk of developing severe, sight-threatening retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants, according to a poster presented at AAO 2024.

Researchers reviewed data from 2,386 infants screened for ROP between 2004 and 2017.

The study found that 10.1% of infants developed advanced ROP (stages 3-5), while the majority (67.5%) had no signs of ROP (stage 0). Maternal diabetes was present in 8.1% of infants with stage 0 ROP and 7% of those with stages 3-5.

After controlling for factors like gestational age, birth weight, and necrotizing enterocolitis, the analysis identified a significant association between maternal diabetes and advanced ROP (P = 0.03). Type 2 diabetes was significantly linked to severe ROP (OR 3.7, P = 0.012). However, no significant associations were found with type 1 diabetes (P = 0.06) or gestational diabetes (P = 0.868).

Reference
Padovani-Claudio DA, et al. In Utero Exposure to Maternal Diabetes, Especially Type 2, Is Associated With Increased Odds of Stage 3-5 ROP Diagnosis. Poster presented at: American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting; October 2024; Chicago.