Gestational weight gain according to treatment in gestational diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: In this systematic review, we aim to compare the GWG in pregnant women with diabetes treated with metformin and other interventions Methods: Data Sources: The searched baselines included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Virtual Health Library (BVS). Study selection: We selected articles that compared the GWG in women with diabetes treated with metformin or insulin. We have included clinical trials (randomized or not), observational studies (cohort, case control, and cross-sectional). Reviews (systematic or not), posters, event abstracts, and letters were excluded. Data Collection: We pooled odds ratios (OR) and mean difference (MD) and used a random effect model using R Studio software to compare the weight gain, fetal birthweight and preeclampsia according to treatment. Results: On research conducted in January 2024, with no data limit of the search, 433 trials were identified, of which 175 remained after duplicate removal. 50 studies were analyzed in the full text analyses and 9 were selected for the systematic review. 8 studies demonstrated that gestational weight gain during metformin treatment is lower when compared to other treatments, especially insulin, although it was not different from other outcomes. Meta-analyses demonstrated that oral medication GWG is lower than insulin with a standard mean difference (SMD) -1,05 [-1,87, - 0,23]. Conclusion: Oral medication has a lower gestational weight gain in patients with gestational diabetes when compared to insulin. International Prospective register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD 42024492158