Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Glycemic Levels During Pregnancy: A Retrospective Analysis

Overview

Journal Open Med (Wars)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Dec 11

PMID 38075035

Authors

Erika Di Zazzo

Sergio Davinelli

Serena Panichella

Giovanni Scapagnini

Mariano Intrieri

Silvio Garofalo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Studies on the COVID-19 pandemic effects on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain limited and controversial. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the glycemic balance of pregnant women and GDM risk. To this aim, a single-center retrospective cohort analysis assessing glucose homeostasis using the oral glucose tolerance test in 862 pregnant women before (from March 9, 2019 to March 8, 2020 - Group 1), during (from March 9, 2020 to March 8, 2021 - Group 2), and after (from March 9, 2021 to March 8, 2022 - Group 3) the COVID-19 lockdown in Molise, a region of central Italy, was conducted. We observed that the blood glucose concentration of pregnant women was significantly lower during the COVID-19 lockdown than during the previous and following years at all time points evaluated (time 0, 60', and 120'). Specifically, at time 0, it was 82.14 mg/dl for group 2 vs 85.94 for group 1 ( = 0.0001) and 85.87 for group 3 ( = 0.001). Similarly, at 60', it was 121.38 mg/dl for group 2 vs 129.30 mg/dl for group 1 ( = 0.0029) and 131.68 mg/dl for group 3 ( = 0.0006). Moreover, at 120', it was 104.20 mg/dl for group 2 vs 111.51 mg/dl ( = 0.0004) for group 1, and 116.06 mg/dl for group 3 ( = 0.0001). In contrast with previous findings, the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with an improved glycemic balance. Further studies are needed to better clarify the influence of lockdown restrictions on glucose metabolism and, consequently, on GDM risk.

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