Prevalence of Hypocalcemia in Infants of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of newborn hypocalcemia among infants of mothers with gestational diabetes. Study Design & Setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted at PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from November 2023 to March 2024 Methodology: Each mother's fasting blood sugar level was evaluated by drawing 5 ml of blood. At 24 hours after delivery, sterile blood samples (2 cc) were taken to determine the neonate's calcium level; a serum calcium level below 7 mg/dl was regarded as hypocalcemia. All information was gathered using a research template that was created in-house. Serum calcium was measured using the Arsenazo III method, and serum albumin was assessed using the bromocresol green (BCG) method. Results: The mean ± S.D. of the maternal age of the study participants was 26.83 ± 3.87 years. The mean ± S.D. of the gestational age of the study participants was 37.35 ± 0.86 weeks. The mean ± S.D. of fasting glucose levels of the study participants was 104.5 ± 15.1 mg/dl. A total of 27.5% of infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes had hypocalcemia. Infants' median Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were 6 and 9, respectively. The prevalence of hypocalcemia in newborns was highest among mothers aged 21–30, though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.139). Conclusion: The results showed that 27.5% of infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes had hypocalcemia. Maternal age did not have a statistically significant association with hypocalcemia in newborns.