Am J Perinatol 2010; 27(3): 265-270
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1239487
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Pregestational Diabetes: A Risk Factor for Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section Failure?

Vanita B. Dharan1 , Sindhu K. Srinivas1 , Samuel Parry1 , Sarah J. Ratcliffe2 , George Macones3
  • 1Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 2Biostatistics, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
26 September 2009 (online)

ABSTRACT

Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) failure is associated with perinatal morbidity. The ability to predict VBAC failure in subgroups of high-risk women is important. Our objectives were: (1) to estimate if women with pregestational diabetes (PDM) who attempt VBAC are at increased risk of failure, and (2) to identify clinical characteristics of PDM women associated with failure. We performed a retrospective cohort study of women eligible for VBAC, delivered between 1995 and 1999 at 17 hospitals to study maternal history/outcomes and neonatal outcomes ascertained through chart abstraction. Women with gestational diabetes were excluded. Student t test was used to compare continuous characteristics. Chi-square/Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to control for confounders. Of all eligible women (23,601), 37% of diabetics (n = 127) and 56% of nondiabetics (n = 12968) attempted VBAC. The VBAC failure rate for PDM was 38% versus 24% for nondiabetic women (p < 0.001). The risk of failure for PDM patients was increased after controlling for confounders (adjusted odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.51; p = 0.038). PDM is independently associated with VBAC failure. The success rate for women with PDM who attempted VBAC (62%) is at the lower end of the general published VBAC success rate range.

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Vanita B DharanM.D. 

Clinical Fellow, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street

2000 Courtyard, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Email: dharanv@obgyn.upenn.edu