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Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Offspring Born through Elective or Non-elective Caesarean Section in Comparison to Vaginal Delivery: a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

  • Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes (A Pugliese and SJ Richardson, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Background

Caesarean section (CS) has been associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The lack of exposure to maternal vaginal and anal microbiome and bypassing the labor process often observed in elective CS may affect neonatal immune system development. This study aims to summarize the effects of elective and non-elective CS on T1D risk in the offspring.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted online for publications providing data on elective and non-elective CS with T1D diagnosis in children and young adults, followed by a meta-analysis from selected studies. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and GRADEpro tool were applied for quality analysis.

Results

Nine observational studies comprising over 5 million individuals fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Crude OR estimates showed a 12% increased T1D risk from elective CS compared to vaginal delivery with significant heterogeneity. Adjusted ORs from seven studies did not show T1D risk differences from either CS category, and heterogeneity was detected between studies. Separate analysis of cohort and case-control studies reduced the heterogeneity and revealed a slight increase in T1D risk associated with elective CS in cohort studies (adjusted OR = 1.12 (1.01–1.24)), and a higher increased risk associated with non-elective CS in case-control studies (adjusted OR = 1.19 (1.06–1.34)).

Conclusion

Summarized crude risk estimates showed a small increased T1D risk in children and young adults born through elective CS compared to vaginal delivery, but with significant heterogeneity. Adjusted risk estimates by study design indicated a slightly increased T1D risks associated with elective or non-elective CS.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Mairead Black (MRCOG, University of Aberdeen, UK) and Mr. Charles S. Algert (Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia) for providing additional risk estimates.

Funding

The authors JT and HB were supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Grant Number 01ER1306 PERGOLA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Biometry and Epidemiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

    Justine Tanoey, Amit Gulati & Heiko Becher

  2. Centre for Public Health, University of Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, UK

    Chris Patterson

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Correspondence to Justine Tanoey.

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Justine Tanoey, Amit Gulati, Chris Patterson, and Heiko Becher declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tanoey, J., Gulati, A., Patterson, C. et al. Risk of Type 1 Diabetes in the Offspring Born through Elective or Non-elective Caesarean Section in Comparison to Vaginal Delivery: a Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Curr Diab Rep 19, 124 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1253-z

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