Risk factors and primary indications for cesarean section in women with gestational diabetes mellitus according to Robson classification.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze cesarean section rates among women with GDM classified according to the Robson system and to identify independent factors associated with vaginal delivery.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with pregnant women receiving care at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, between 2012 and 2020. A total of 1508 pregnant women with GDM were included and divided into two groups based on the mode of delivery. Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences between groups and identify predictive factors for vaginal delivery using Binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall c-section rate was 65.3 %. Robson group 5 was the most representative, accounting for 39.53 % of all cesarean deliveries, with a single previous uterine scar being the primary indication (40.2 %). Spontaneous labor onset was the strongest independent predictor of vaginal delivery (OR = 8.601, 95 % CI 6.029‒12.270), whereas previous cesarean delivery (OR = 0.093, 95 % CI 0.065‒0.134), fetal distress (OR = 0.110, 95 % CI 0.071‒0.171), and multiple pregnancy (OR = 0.096, 95 % CI 0.036‒0.259) significantly reduced this likelihood.

CONCLUSIONS

The high cesarean section rate among women with GDM, particularly in group 5, highlights the importance of previous uterine scar in determining the mode of delivery in this population. Encouraging spontaneous labor onset, provided that maternal and fetal conditions are adequately monitored, may be an effective strategy to reduce unnecessary cesarean sections in pregnancies complicated by GDM.