WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Rand Abdulwahid Hameed, Ghazi Farhan Haji and Noor Rahman Allawi

ABSTRACT

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), affecting around 15% of pregnancies worldwide, is associated with increased maternal and fetal risks, including subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Traditional echocardiography may not detect early myocardial abnormalities, while speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) offers enhanced sensitivity by evaluating global longitudinal strain (GLS), a marker of early left ventricular (LV) systolic impairment. Aim: This study aimed to assess the subclinical impact of GDM on maternal LV systolic function using STE. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital between September 2023 and May 2024. A total of 105 pregnant women were enrolled: 45 with GDM and 60 healthy controls. Participants underwent clinical and comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation, including STE. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Results: Women with GDM exhibited significant alterations in cardiac structure and function compared to controls. The GDM group showed increased interventricular septal thickness (9.52 mm vs. 8.14 mm, p = 0.0001), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (9.64 mm vs. 8.43 mm, p = 0.0001), higher relative wall thickness (0.44 vs. 0.37, p = 0.0001), elevated left ventricular mass index (79.91 g/m² vs. 67.24 g/m², p = 0.001), and reduced GLS (-15.68 vs. -18.87, p = 0.0001). Conclusion: GDM is associated with subclinical LV systolic dysfunction and structural cardiac remodeling detectable by STE. Early cardiac assessment in GDM patients may facilitate timely intervention and improve maternal cardiovascular outcomes.