Turk J Pediatr. 2026 Mar 26;68(2):221-234. doi: 10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.7901.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The arterial wall tends to stiffen owing to prolonged exposure to cardiovascular disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and chronic inflammation. Epidemiological research has demonstrated that maternal factors, demographic characteristics, and clinical data influence arterial stiffness and echocardiographic findings. This study aimed to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and echocardiographic findings with maternal factors and demographic and clinical characteristics in infants of mothers with gestational diabetes or hypertension during the neonatal period.
METHODS: A total of 67 newborns between 12-29 days of age, including 15 neonates of hypertensive mothers, 26 neonates of diabetic mothers, and 26 neonates in the control group, were included. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was used as a marker of arterial stiffness and measurements were performed using echocardiography. Basic echocardiographic evaluations and atrial and ventricular strain assessments were performed.
RESULTS: The mean cfPWV value of infants of diabetic mothers (6.34 m/s) was significantly higher than that of infants of hypertensive mothers (4.65 m/s) and the control group (4.56 m/s) (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that increasing maternal age and the presence of diabetes in the mother were predictors of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity values. The right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain z-scores were higher in hypertensive infants, while no significant difference was found in other strain measurements.
CONCLUSION: The analysis of arterial stiffness in infants of diabetic mothers, infants of hypertensive mothers, and controls showed that advanced maternal age and maternal diabetes were particularly associated with increased cfPWV. This study highlights the potential influence of maternal metabolic status on neonatal cardiac morphology and vascular function. Based on the data presented, further research is warranted to investigate whether the observed effects on arterial stiffness in infants of diabetic mothers persist into older ages and have long-term implications for the health of these patients.
PMID:42172458 | DOI:10.24953/turkjpediatr.2026.7901